CRFS, a company that designs, builds, programs as well as deploys systems and solutions for RF spectrum monitoring, management and geolocation has published a case study that shows how the company can secure a facility from technical surveillance. To do so, CRFS used their RFEye Guard solution. This is a continuous TSCM (Technical Surveillance Countermeasures) solution that combines highly sensitive and broad bandwidth receivers with simple autonomous software to ensure you never miss an illicit signal.
The Challenge: To Enforce RF Free Environment
A national intelligence agency was looking to secure their facility against technical surveillance. This included both covert purpose-made bugging devices that could exfiltrate data via RF and cellphones. The building was used to discuss material designated as classified, secret and top secret. It was therefore vital to have the highest level of security. The agency had rigorous physical security protocols in place to stop unauthorized access and all authorized visitors entering the facility were required to leave cellphones at reception and then pass through a scanner. In addition, handheld TSCM sweeps were carried out to periodically search for hidden surveillance devices.
However, the agency wanted to be confident that they could detect any unauthorized devices that may have been placed after the TSCM sweep took place or a cellphone that had entered the facility either intentionally or unintentionally. They approached CRFS to ask how we could help. They wanted a system that would be able to continuously monitor their building and alert them to any transmission over a wide frequency range. Any solution had to be autonomous, integrate with their existing security system and not be too visually obvious or intrusive.
The Solution: RFeye Guard
CRFS recommended their product RFEye Guard continuous In-Place Monitoring System (IPMS) as a solution. It would allow 24/7 real-time monitoring of the electromagnetic environment to pick up any transmission from a surveillance device or cellphone. Any breach of conditions would send an alarm, via an API, to their system for security guards to respond to.
Following discussions with the agency, they worked out how to install the system to ensure optimum coverage and detection. Discrete indoor ceiling-mounted sensors were installed, combined with outdoor sensors on external walls. This allowed signals inside the building to be easily distinguished from that outside – eliminating false positives. But rather than just monitor transmissions, the RFEye Guard system allowed the agency to geolocate any suspect transmissions using POA (Power on Arrival), down to an area within an individual room. Once the RFeye Guard system is installed, it first gets configured to map out the rooms and corridors of the buildings and then initial spectrum sweeps were carried out to ascertain what was normal for the building. Alert levels and geofences were constructed and the whole system thoroughly tested.
Results: Positive, 24/7 Monitoring of RF Threats was Achieved
During testing, the RFEye Guard system positively proved that it could detect and locate a range of RF transmissions. Any detected transmission was automatically recorded for analysis and alerts sent to the security system. This gave the agency confidence that secret conversations would remain secret. Now operational, the system continues to protect the agency’s building against RF threats.
Click here to learn more about the RFeye Guard Solution from CRFS.
