4 Reasons Critical Infrastructure Drone Detection Is a Smart Investment

Critical infrastructure security leaders are skilled at managing evolving threats, constantly balancing priorities to keep their facilities safe and resilient. With drone activity increasing, many are asking: Do we need critical infrastructure drone detection software?

In the past, drones may not have posed an urgent or mitigable risk, but the security landscape has changed. Incidents at critical infrastructure sites are on the rise, legal enforcement against unauthorized drone operators is gaining traction, and advancements in drone defense technology have made detection and response more practical and cost-efficient than ever.

With these shifts, critical infrastructure drone detection software is quickly becoming a necessary layer of protection. Here are four reasons CI security leaders are prioritizing investment in drone defense systems:

1. The drone threat is real—even if you haven’t seen it yet

As a critical infrastructure security leader, your job is to anticipate risks, implement proactive security measures, and counter emerging threats. Naturally, if drones haven’t been an issue at your facility yet, it’s easy to wonder whether drone detection software is really necessary.

But security is about preparing for what’s coming—not just reacting to what’s already happened. Imagine if IT delayed installing firewalls until after experiencing a cyberattack, or if your organization only implemented access controls after an unauthorized entry. Think about how many organizations thought their business continuity plans were rock solid—only to be caught flat-footed when COVID-19 hit because a global pandemic seemed too improbable a scenario to seriously consider.

Drone threats follow the same logic. Even if your facility has yet to experience a direct drone-related incident, the threat landscape isn't theoretical—it's active and growing rapidly. The U.S. government recently warned that "the reckless and criminal use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) poses significant risk to critical infrastructure security and public safety." Real incidents at critical infrastructure facilities validate this warning:

• In Tennessee, the FBI foiled a plot to attack a Nashville electric substation using a drone armed with explosives.
• In New Jersey, a chemical plant found a grounded drone containing surveillance footage of the facility.
• In Pennsylvania, a drone modified to cause an intentional power disruption was recovered outside an electrical substation.
• In Louisiana, drones were spotted flying over a nuclear power plant, but their origin remains a mystery.

These aren’t hypothetical risks—they’re happening now. Implementing UAS detection technology isn’t about over-preparing for an unlikely scenario. It’s about recognizing that the threat already exists and protecting your facility before it becomes the next target.

Drone defense can be viewed through the lens of preventative security—a critical tool akin to physical access controls, cybersecurity measures, or surveillance cameras. Think of drone defense like a home security system: it's not there because you've had a burglary—it's there to ensure you never experience one. Likewise, preventive maintenance in industrial facilities isn't conducted because equipment frequently fails—it's precisely to ensure it doesn't.

Critical infrastructure drone detection software provides the same preventative value, helping you identify and address drone threats before they escalate into crises. As the saying goes, an "ounce of prevention" significantly outweighs the costs and complexities of responding after an incident occurs.

2. UAS detection can lead to meaningful legal consequences

Some security leaders wonder whether detecting drone incidents leads to significant legal outcomes. The answer is clear: reckless and malicious drone operators can—and do—face serious consequences when caught.

For instance, during a sold-out football game at Memorial Stadium, the University of Illinois used SkySafe's drone detection software to rapidly identify the operator of a drone hovering dangerously above the crowd. Officers swiftly pinpointed the operator’s location—a fourth-floor balcony nearly half a mile away—and apprehended him within minutes. The pilot was charged under Illinois state law with reckless conduct, and the case was forwarded to the FAA for additional action. This landmark prosecution shows how effective drone detection can lead directly to concrete legal consequences.

Another high-profile prosecution occurred in Los Angeles, where a drone collided with a firefighting Super Scooper aircraft during the Palisades Fire, grounding the critical plane for five days. The drone operator pleaded guilty to unsafe operation of an uncrewed aircraft and was fined over $65,000, sending a strong message that reckless drone use comes with a hefty price.

Across the country, states are strengthening drone-related laws to protect critical infrastructure, with penalties that range from significant fines to jail time. Here are a few examples:

• Pennsylvania: 18 Pa.C.S. § 3505 - Makes it unlawful to operate a drone over critical infrastructure (e.g., power plants, substations, airports) with intent to disrupt or surveil. Violation is a summary offense (up to 90 days jail and/or $300 fine); felony if disruption occurs (up to 7 years).
• North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-300.1 - Prohibits drone surveillance of critical infrastructure (e.g., power plants, pipelines, ports) without consent. Violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 120 days jail); felony if used to deliver contraband (up to 7 years).
• Texas: Texas Government Code § 423.0045 - Prohibits drone use to capture images of critical infrastructure (e.g., power plants, pipelines, ports) without consent, except for specific exemptions (e.g., law enforcement). Violation is a Class C misdemeanor (up to $500 fine); subsequent offenses escalate to Class B (up to 180 days jail and/or $2,000 fine).
• Virginia: Virginia Code § 18.2-121.4 - Bans drones from trespassing over critical infrastructure (e.g., power plants, pipelines) without permission. Violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail and/or $2,500 fine).

Beyond individual prosecutions, actively enforcing drone regulations serves as a powerful deterrent. When operators know they’ll be identified and held accountable, they’re less likely to break the rules. Captain McCullough of the University of Illinois Police Department says SkySafe has helped the university make that message loud and clear: unauthorized drone operators will be identified, pursued, and prosecuted. With detection and forensic drone technology, security teams don’t just respond to airspace violations—they can stop them before they happen.

3. It’s now possible to physically neutralize drone threats

Some critical infrastructure security teams assume that detecting a rogue drone is where their authority ends. The concern is understandable—traditional countermeasures like jamming are unreliable, and shooting down drones is both unsafe and illegal in most scenarios. But that doesn’t mean facilities are powerless. Today, technology exists to not only detect drone threats but to safely remove them from restricted airspace.

Through our partnership with Fortem Technologies, for example, SkySafe offers a fully integrated airspace security solution that goes beyond detection to actively stop drone threats. By combining SkySafe’s RF-based drone detection with Fortem’s radar-based tracking and mitigation tools, security teams can now detect, track, and respond in real time—ensuring threats are not just identified but removed before they can cause harm.

A key component of this system is Fortem’s DroneHunter® F700, an autonomous, radar-guided interceptor that safely captures unauthorized drones mid-flight using net-based technology. It fires rapidly expanding nets to ensnare drone targets, safely disabling and removing rogue drones from restricted airspace with minimal collateral impact. This makes it ideal for safeguarding power plants, water treatment facilities, airports, and other critical sites where uninterrupted operations are essential.

With this legally compliant mitigation strategy in place, security teams no longer have to sit back and watch as drones violate their airspace. A multi-layered approach to airspace security—one that integrates detection and mitigation—gives CI security leaders the power to neutralize drone threats before they become major security incidents.

4. Cloud-based drone detection software is cost-effective

Budget constraints are a reality for every security team, and investing in new technology requires careful justification. But when it comes to UAS detection technology, the real question isn’t whether you can afford it—it’s whether you can afford not to have it.

Some critical infrastructure security leaders assume that implementing a drone defense system means large-scale hardware installations, costly infrastructure upgrades, long implementation timelines, and time-consuming maintenance. But modern drone defense systems like SkySafe use cloud-based technology, significantly reducing costs and complexity.

Cloud-based drone detection software eliminates the need to purchase expensive hardware and manage ongoing maintenance. Instead of investing in large, complex systems, security teams get flexible, scalable coverage that seamlessly integrates with their existing infrastructure. It’s also much easier and faster to deploy—the University of Illinois had SkySafe installed and fully operational within just 24 hours.

And when weighing costs, consider the alternative. Unauthorized drones can cause serious financial damage, from disrupting operations and delaying production to violating compliance regulations and creating legal liabilities. A single drone incident—whether it results in property damage, data breaches, or safety risks—can easily outweigh the cost of a proactive drone security system. With cloud-based UAS detection technology, organizations get the protection they need—without breaking the budget.

Duty of Care: A Legal Obligation to Protect Workers

Drone defense isn’t just a security measure—it’s also a legal and ethical responsibility. Fulfilling your organization’s duty of care means that your company takes reasonable steps to protect employees from foreseeable threats.

And today, rogue drones are a very real, very foreseeable threat.

Failing to implement adequate drone defense measures can put employees in unnecessary danger, whether from unauthorized surveillance, smuggling, or direct attacks. A drone dropping a payload on an oil rig, power plant, or chemical facility, for example, could result in severe injuries or even loss of life.

Courts and regulators increasingly hold organizations accountable for neglecting known security risks that harm employees, especially when technology exists to mitigate them. Employers cannot claim ignorance or inaction when it comes to ensuring a safe working environment.

A comprehensive drone defense strategy is more than just an investment in security—it’s a necessary component of modern workplace safety. Organizations must be able to detect, assess, and neutralize aerial threats—just as they would with any other workplace hazard—to fulfill their legal duty of care.

Modern Threats Require Modern Security Measures

Drone defense has become an essential part of critical infrastructure security. Drones aren’t hypothetical concerns—they’re already being used to surveil, disrupt, and attack critical infrastructure. Waiting until after an incident to invest in drone detection software isn’t a strategic decision—it’s an unnecessary risk.

Security isn’t about reacting to yesterday’s threats—it’s about staying ahead of tomorrow’s. Integrating drone detection into existing security protocols ensures your organization remains safe, compliant, and protected from emerging risks. With modern, cloud-based drone detection software like SkySafe, CI security teams have the tools to monitor their airspace, assess threats, and prevent drone incursions from jeopardizing their facilities.