When the stakes are high, there’s no room for shortcuts.
As one of the nation’s most trusted UL 2050-integrators, Secom has decades of experience securing SCIFs and SAPFs to the highest federal standards. Through disciplined engineering, rigorous compliance, and proactive monitoring, we help make mission-critical spaces more secure, more resilient, and fully audit-ready from day one.
Below is a practical, step-by-step guide to SCIF development—along with where Secom’s expertise provides the most value.
- Planning & Requirements
The mission, classification level (Secret, Top Secret, SAPF, etc.), and threat profile are defined by the government program office. Key directives are selected depending on agency requirements.
Key planning tasks include:
- Defining physical, electronic, visual, and acoustic boundaries
- Establishing security zones and operational workflow
- Identifying intrusion detection and access-control requirements
- Coordinating with architects and general contractors
Secom’s role: Early engagement ensures your SCIF design anticipates monitoring, alarm routing, secure cabling, and UL 2050 requirements before construction begins—saving time, cost, and redesign later.
- Architectural & Physical Construction
This phase builds the secured perimeter and controlled environment.
Typical construction elements include:
- Walls, ceilings, and floors that are designed to meet penetration-resistance and acoustic standards.
- Sound attenuation, TEMPEST shielding, and visual controls as required.
- SCIF-rated doors, locks, hardware, and gasketing.
- Secure pathways for HVAC, power, plumbing, and data routing
Secom’s role: While we do not have a direct hand in construction, we coordinate closely with builders to ensure infrastructure properly supports intrusion detection, access control, alarms, and secure cable routing designed for a classified environment.
- Systems Integration & Technology Layer
Here, your SCIF becomes operational, with compliant systems installed and tested.
Core security systems include:
- Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
- Access control and personnel entry management
- Video surveillance (when permitted by program requirements)
- Communication and alarm transmission redundancies
- Tamper detection, secure routing, and cryptographic protections
Secom’s role: As a UL 2050 provider, our team designs and installs fully compliant systems, ensuring proper operation, encrypted alarm transmission, and seamless communication with the monitoring center.
- Certification & Audit Readiness
Accreditation is a detailed, multi-step process that verifies the SCIF is secure and compliant.
This stage includes:
- Conducting pre-inspections and internal compliance reviews,
- Performing IDS functional and performance testing.
- Verifying physical and acoustic controls.
- Validating alarm transmission and monitoring integrity.
- Submitting required documentation, drawings, and test results.
- Resolving any deficiencies before final inspection.
Secom’s role: We support semiannual inspections, IDS testing, documentation preparation, and long-term compliance under UL 2050—ensuring your space remains audit-ready at all times.
- Operation, Monitoring & Maintenance
Once accredited, the SCIF must be operated under strict, ongoing controls. Responsibilities include:
- Visitor and escort procedures.
- Access-control oversight and logging.
- Alarm monitoring and event review.
- Routine sensor and system testing.
- Maintaining complete logs for audits and re-accreditation.
Secom’s role: Our monitoring teams provide real-time alarm response, event documentation, and system oversight—helping detect unusual activity or changes in behavior long before they escalate.
Why Choose Secom for SCIF Security
- We are authorized UL 2050 integrators equipped to certify, monitor and maintain SCIFs/SAPFs under federal standards.
- Our team excels in signal processing, alarm investigation, closed area servicing, and classified environment best practices.
Engage Secom early in your SCIF project to align and optimize design and technology. Let intelligence be your force-multiplier, not an afterthought. Reach out to our team today to learn more.