Whether you’re securing people, objects, areas or some combination of the three, it’s important to only buy the best in security gear. Here are three ways to help you figure out what “the best” is.

1. Bollards

Anti-ram and security bollards are used to protect both people and property. They can be installed around buildings, sheds, storage units and parking lots to prevent drivers from accidentally or deliberately ramming a vehicle into your protected area.

There are many things to consider when purchasing bollards for your military zone, but here are just a few of the most important:

– Certification. Have they been tested by the Department of Defense (DoD) to meet critical protection standards? Some companies like Gibralter have this certification displayed on their website.

– Size. Not all bollards are strong enough to protect against certain kinds of moving military equipment. If you have specific size or strength needs, make sure you’re buying a bollard that can accommodate them.

– Price. Bollards are rarely purchased alone; most people order several at the same time. If there’s a price listed on the website, does it apply to individual bollards or units of a certain amount?

2. Crash Gates

Crash gates are another way to stop unauthorized vehicles from accessing checkpoints or secured areas. They’re usually less strong than bollards since they’re less dense, but on the flip side, they can cover a much wider area and provide instantaneous noise if anyone tries to breach them.

Here are a few things to consider if you’re in the market for anti-ram crash gates:

– Use. Why do you need crash gates in the first place? If they’re only meant as a visual deterrent, you don’t need something with as many bells and whistles as a gate designed to withstand active acts of terrorism.

– Functionality. Some buyers prefer sliding gates while others want swinging gates. There’s no right or wrong answer here; it all depends on your personal needs and the needs of the installation site in question.

– Technology. Modern crash gates come with a wide variety of sensors, alarms and wireless controls, so if you’re protecting high-value assets that need constant surveillance, it may be worth the trouble to buy something with special features.

3. Cable Barriers

Unlike bollards and gates, most cable barriers aren’t designed to physically stop vehicles. They function as redirection tools instead. Drivers will be encouraged or even required to follow along the paths you’ve set, and those paths can lead them straight away from your military zone if you so choose.

As with everything else, however, you should be careful when you buy cable barriers, and here’s why:

– Material. What are the cables made of, and how strong is it?

– Certification. Look for something that’s been cleared as Test Level 3 (TL-3) or Test Level 4 (TL-4). Anything else isn’t strong enough to meet the demands of an active protection site.

– Quantity. You should always err on the side of caution and buy too much instead of not enough. You can store and use the extra cable later if need be, but if you have to wait around for additional cables to be ordered, your site is vulnerable that much longer.

These are just a few tools to help you secure your military zone. It’s by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully it’s enough to get you started.