Volume 11
April 2017 Edition
US Needs Updated Drone Security Solutions , by Logan Harris
An Israeli soldier launches a Skylark unmanned aerial vehicle near the Israeli-Gaza Border ( Image Credit : Baz Ratner , Reuters via Intl Business News )
Guest Editorial by Logan Harris , CEO of SpotterRF
Commercial and hobby drones have exploded in popularity . During the 2015 holiday season alone , as many as 1 million drones were sold .
This proliferation of private drones has created an entirely new security risk to which businesses and governments must adapt and respond .
Using this same method , terrorists could target the nation ’ s power grid or other high profile locations to create terror and panic .
With over 55,000 substations in operation in the United States , there is a vast amount of sensitive and expensive equipment to protect from the threat posed by drones .
To date , just 500,000 drones have been registered with the FAA .
This leaves a lot of unknown entities operating small , difficult-to-detect drones around the skies all over the country . Indeed , rogue groups such as ISIS have begun using drones to carry explosives in targeted attacks .
In recent years , increased standards from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation have begun to require stronger security measures , but not every substation has been able to comply as quickly as hoped .
CSR , has the benefit of being able to detect & track foreign objects in all weather conditions at a fraction of the size & cost .
Security professionals are working furiously to address the gaps in drone defense .
( Oct 13 , 2016 - Two Kurdish fighters were killed in Mosul , Iraq when a small ISIS-controlled drone exploded after being intercepted . A Kurdish defense spokesperson told Reuters the device has been booby-trapped . Courtesy of TomoNews US
and YouTube .)
Currently , the most common technologies in use for drone detection are video , acoustic sensors , radio , and radar .
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