Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doomed PHYSEC
The film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom follows the adventures of the legendary Indiana Jones as he tries to recover the Sankara Stones from a cult in India. The eponymous Temple is depicted as a highly secured site with several layers of physical security measures implemented to protect the Sankara Stones. However, from a Physical Security (PHYSEC) perspective, there are several issues with the security measures implemented in the Temple. In this paper, we will examine the PHYSEC principles applied in the Temple of Doom and evaluate their effectiveness.
Access Control: Access control is one of the most critical PHYSEC principles. It is a security mechanism that limits access to physical resources, systems, or data to authorised personnel only. In the Temple of Doom, the cult members and their prisoners can move freely around the Temple without any identification or authentication requirements. There are no proper access control mechanisms implemented, which makes the Temple vulnerable to unauthorised access attempts.
Perimeter Security: Perimeter security is another crucial PHYSEC principle. It involves securing the external boundary of a facility or site to restrict unauthorised access. In the Temple of Doom, there are no physical barriers, such as walls or fences, to restrict unauthorised access. The Temple is situated in a remote location, with no visible security presence, which makes it highly vulnerable to attacks.
CCTV Surveillance: CCTV surveillance involves the use of cameras to monitor and record activities within a facility or site and is an important tool in PHYSEC. There are no CCTV surveillance systems installed in or around the Temple of Doom. The lack of CCTV surveillance makes it challenging to monitor and record any unauthorised activities within the Temple. As an aside, we may concede that this might be because they weren’t in widespread use in 1935… in fact the first CCTV system was invented in 1942, with the first commercial system following in 1949 (just in case you’re wondering!).
Alarm Systems: Alarm systems are critical PHYSEC measures that alert security personnel to any unauthorised access attempts or security breaches. In the Temple of Doom, the lack of security alarm systems enables Indiana Jones to freely move about the Temple without alerting the guards to his presence. Yes, alarm systems were a thing in 1935 – they can be traced back to ancient Egypt!
Guards: A security guard force can be a significant enable for PHYSEC and involves the deployment of trained security personnel to protect a facility or site. In the Temple of Doom, there are a few guards stationed at the entrance, but they do not have sufficient training, weapons, or communication devices. The lack of trained guards makes the Temple vulnerable to theft or destruction of the Sankara Stones.
In conclusion, the Temple of Doom has not implement the principles of PHYSEC effectively. The lack of proper access control, perimeter security, CCTV surveillance, alarm systems, and trained guards makes the Temple highly vulnerable to unauthorised access attempts or security breaches. The Temple's security measures are not sufficient to protect the Sankara Stones, and it would be easy for someone to steal or destroy them. The movie is a fictional depiction, but it serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of implementing effective PHYSEC measures to protect physical assets.
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