Sandia performs many security-related studies and analyses of various kinds that help our customers better manage their security risks. These analyses are done at a systems level and involve differing quantitative and qualitative techniques, depending upon the particular problem being analyzed. Examples of these techniques include process analysis, modeling, simulation, performance evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis.
Sandia's customers for systems-level security analysis include the DOE, the DoD, other federal agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, state and local agencies such as departments of corrections, and private entities such as banking institutions. This work is of such a nature that it either directly solves, or can eventually be leveraged to solve, a security-related problem of national significance, although the immediate analysis can be for a particular facility or entity.
Sandia's Contribution
Sandia occasionally collaborates with other DOE national laboratories on large security-systems-analysis problems when complementary skills from them are required. For example, while Sandia has extensive expertise in physical-security areas, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has extensive expertise in material control and accounting areas.
We have expertise in using automated modeling and simulation tools, as well as in developing models. Past work in this area has included modeling of prison inmate populations of varying security levels flowing through a prison system (visually depicted below), modeling of DOE's weapons dismantlement process, and modeling the role of protective-services forces. Examples of current analysis work include fault-tree modeling of bank card vulnerabilities and modeling of small force engagement scenarios.
Security performance evaluation is another area of expertise. Primarily under the sponsorship of the DOE, methodologies are developed and used to evaluate security performance of both systems and components. Such evaluations are necessary to ensure that security systems perform as required. Eventually such performance evaluations will lead to greater standardization of security systems.
Systems-level analysis is also performed in the nuclear weapons security area. Dismantlement analyses help to improve security during the transportation, storage, and disassembly of weapons and components. An analysis of the life cycle of nuclear weapons identifies security features and opportunities for improvement and leads to decisions that improve security, reduce manpower, enhance system reliability, and decrease life-cycle costs. Other analyses look at recapture and recovery of nuclear weapons that have been obtained by terrorists, in addition to studying nuclear weapons proliferation issues.
Future Work
Although security analysis work has historically been done primarily for the DOE and the DoD, efforts for other government agencies have increased in recent years. The future should involve increasing effort in the levels of analysis for other government agencies, state and local governments, and private industry.
For further information, contact:
Debra D. Spencer
Sandia National Laboratories, MS-0762
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0762
Phone: (505) 845-8280
e-mail: ddspenc@sandia.gov
or
Ivan G. Waddoups
Sandia National Laboratories, MS-0759
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0759
Phone: (505) 844-1649
e-mail: igwaddo@sandia.gov
or
Frederick O. Luetters
Sandia National Laboratories, MS-0761
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0761
Phone: (505) 844-3735
e-mail: foluett@sandia.gov
Submitted October 1995 Layout design by Wanda Mar.
Submitted October 1995