Security Technology in Courthouses Flashcards

A courthouse's license plate recognition (LPR) system at the parking garage entrance is primarily used for:

Answer: Automatically identifying and alerting on vehicles associated with court orders or watchlists

LPR systems at courthouses compare captured plate numbers against databases of plates linked to known threats, suspended licenses, or active warrants in real time.

Under-vehicle inspection systems (UVIS) deployed at courthouse perimeter checkpoints are designed to detect:

Answer: Contraband, weapons, or improvised explosive devices attached beneath a vehicle

UVIS use cameras and mirrors (or automated scanning systems) to inspect the undercarriage of vehicles for attached packages, IEDs, or contraband before entry.

A courthouse deploys a visitor management system (VMS) that requires government-issued ID scanning. A core security function of the VMS is to:

Answer: Cross-reference visitor identities against sex offender, warrant, and restraining order databases

Automated database checks against criminal and civil court databases help officers identify individuals who may pose a threat before they are admitted to the building.

A courthouse officer notices that a security camera covering the main entrance shows significant image distortion during afternoon hours. The most likely cause is:

Answer: Direct sunlight causing lens glare or sensor saturation (backlighting)

Cameras aimed toward bright light sources such as glass entrance doors during afternoon sun commonly suffer from backlighting, causing the interior subject to appear dark or the image to wash out.

Which cybersecurity control is specifically recommended to protect IP-based courthouse security cameras from unauthorized access?

Answer: Changing default manufacturer credentials and applying firmware updates

Default usernames and passwords on IP cameras are publicly documented and exploited routinely; changing credentials and patching firmware are the most basic and effective protective steps.

A courthouse security plan requires a 'defense-in-depth' approach. In the context of security technology, this means:

Answer: Layering multiple overlapping security technologies so no single failure compromises overall security

Defense-in-depth uses multiple independent security layers—perimeter barriers, access control, screening equipment, CCTV, and alarms—so that bypassing one layer does not defeat the entire system.

A courthouse uses two-factor authentication (2FA) to control access to the security operations center (SOC). The two factors required are a proximity card AND a PIN. If an officer's card is stolen, the PIN requirement:

Answer: Prevents the thief from gaining access without knowing the second independent factor

The second factor (something you know—the PIN) ensures that possession of the card alone is insufficient, requiring the attacker to also know the PIN to gain entry.