What is Target Hardening?

Target Hardening relates to the strengthening of security protections for a building or installation in order to minimise the risk of a security-related breach.

Often associated with protective measures included within CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), strategies will usually include strategies that ensure all doors and windows are fitted in a way that can resist forcible attacks, that physical barriers and landscapes can resist vehicle and pedestrian intrusion, that vegetation is controlled to remove concealment points, and that there are visual connections between persons in and around a protected area. 

Contemporary approaches to target hardening ensure strategic or tactical assets are secured against hostile attacks.  Examples include the use of bollards to protect crowds against hostile vehicle attacks or barriers against blast hardening.

Overall, target hardening techniques should be aimed to produce a strong, physical defence that will either deter or delay any attempt to breach security protections.