Intrusion Detection & Monitoring Flashcards
7 cards from real CST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Intrusion Detection & Monitoring flashcards as text
What is the primary advantage of using a cellular communicator as a backup path for an alarm system?
Answer: It provides communication even when telephone lines are cut or disabled
Cellular communicators operate independently of landline infrastructure, ensuring alarm signals reach the central station even if an intruder cuts the telephone lines.
In perimeter intrusion detection, a buried geophone cable detects which type of threat?
Answer: Ground vibrations caused by footsteps or vehicle movement
Geophone (seismic) cables buried along a perimeter detect low-frequency ground vibrations generated by walking, running, or vehicle traffic, enabling early perimeter breach detection.
When an alarm panel is in 'test mode,' what is the expected behavior of alarm signals sent to the central station?
Answer: Signals are transmitted but flagged so the central station knows not to dispatch
During test mode, the panel transmits signals to the central station but includes a test identifier, so operators acknowledge receipt without dispatching emergency responders.
A balanced magnetic switch (BMS) is used instead of a standard door contact primarily to resist which attack method?
Answer: Magnetic field spoofing used to defeat standard reed switches
A BMS uses a biased magnetic field that requires a specific magnetic signature to remain in the secure state, making it resistant to defeat by an external magnet placed near a standard reed switch.
Which zone type on an intrusion alarm panel will trigger an immediate alarm regardless of the armed state of the system?
Answer: 24-hour zone
A 24-hour zone remains active and will generate an alarm at all times—whether the system is armed or disarmed—typically used for panic buttons, smoke detectors, or tamper circuits.
An installer is verifying the 'walk test' of a PIR sensor. What movement pattern will produce the most reliable detection?
Answer: Walking across the detector's field of view (lateral movement)
PIR detectors are most sensitive to lateral movement that crosses detection zones, maximizing the differential infrared signal as the body moves between segments of the Fresnel lens.
A security consultant recommends 'volumetric detection' for a high-value storage room. Which sensor type best fulfills this requirement?
Answer: Microwave or PIR sensors covering the interior space
Volumetric detectors such as microwave or PIR sensors cover the three-dimensional interior space of a room, detecting any intruder who enters the volume regardless of how they gained access.