Title: Commercial Facilities
Course: Critical Infrastructure: An Overview > Section: Course Content

Click here for a downloadable version of this document: Commercial Facilities

Commercial Facilities

Facilities that have open public access and are typically privately owned are the facilities considered commercial facilities. These facilities operate with minimal interaction from the federal government and without highly visible security barriers [1]. The Sector Specific Agency (SSA) for the Commercial Facilities Sector is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

There are eight subsectors of the commercial facilities sector:

1. Public Assembly – Facilities like stadiums, sports arenas, convention centers, zoos, et cetera
2. Sports Leagues – Professional sports leagues and federations
3. Gaming – Casinos
4. Lodging – Hotels, motels, and conference centers
5. Outdoor Events – Theme parks, amusement parks, fairs, campgrounds, parades
6. Entertainment and Media – Motion picture studios, broadcast media
7. Real Estate – Office buildings, apartment buildings, condominiums, self-storage, et cetera
8. Retail – Shopping malls, retail centers, retail districts [1]

Risk management in the commercial facilities sector strives to be as non-obstructive as possible. The nature of the sector is to provide as free moving and quick an access to facilities as possible. Shoppers going to a mall for example, may find it bothersome if required to go through a security checkpoint before entering the mall every time they go to shop. However, everyone wants to feel secure and safe when attending a public event, shopping at a large retail center, or staying in a hotel. Keeping this in mind, the mission of the commercial facilities sector is, “… to maintain a profitable, secure, resilient, sector with non-obstructive risk management programs while instilling a positive sense of safety and security in public” [2]. This mission should keep shoppers, employees, and other patrons feeling safe enough to continue their commercial facilities related routines [2].

Why Are Commercial Facilities Considered Critical Infrastructure?

The commercial facilities sector is major part of the United States economy and any losses felt in this sector will have a negative impact on it. Terrorist attacks on commercial facilities could result in loss of life, injuries, and fear that could disrupt our economy or way of life. Any incident like a natural disaster, cyber security attacks, or terrorist attacks could cause enough concern to damage public morale and confidence and in turn damage our nation’s economy [3] [2].

Hazards and Threats

There are many possible hazards to commercial facilities, listed here are a few of the manmade and natural hazards that should be included in plans and risk management strategies.

Manmade Hazards – Includes cyber threats, terrorists, insider threats, and active shooter scenarios

Natural Disaster – Includes floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes

Some common ways to minimize threats in and around commercial facilities include:

- Provide abundant lighting (both indoors and outdoors)
- Install bollards[i] to prevent vehicles from getting too close to the structure
- Install security cameras
- Increase security
- Train employees in threat awareness and emphasize reporting suspicious activity
- Educate all building tenants about suspicious behavior and how to report it
- Encourage good communications between employees
- Practice evacuating the facility [4]

[i] Bollard – A post that prevents vehicles from going into an area… [Merriam-Webster.com]