Have you ever wondered where the most difficult place in the world to break into is? What buildings contain some of the most rigorous security systems, access control systems, and even their own army to deter any unwanted visitors.
This blog will look at some of the world’s most secure high-security facilities and buildings, in addition to what makes them so secure.
Vatican Street Archive, Rome, Italy
One of the most secretive and enigmatic locations, the Vatican’s Street Archives only has a few numbers of images ever published of what lies inside. Housing some of history’s most precious religious papers with an estimate of 35,000 volumes of papers over a stretch of 53 miles of shelving.
Access to the archives is forbidden for reporters, students, and amateur historians, and authorization is only granted to academic scholars who must renew their access requests every six months and must be at least 75 years old!
Academics are permitted to access the Vatican at a specific entry point guarded by the Swiss Guard. They are then led into the archives, where they can view up to three previously requested documents every day.
Given that it’s only open to researchers, there are only a few photographs of the 53 kilometres of archive shelving, so your best hope of catching a glimpse of what is inside is in the film Angels & Demons, where the iconic bunker was reconstructed!
Federal Reserve Bank, New York, USA
The gold vault of the New York Federal Reserve Bank is located on the bottom floor of its main office building in Manhattan. The vault, which was built during the building’s construction in the early 1920s, offers account holders a secure facility to store their monetary gold reserves.
The gold in the vault does not belong to the New York Federal Reserve; it serves as a guardian on behalf of account holders, those who include the United States government, foreign governments, and other central banks. Individuals or businesses from the private sector are not permitted to deposit gold in the vault.
The bank currently holds approximately 497,000 gold bars weighing over 6,000 tonnes and can withstand this weight because it’s built on the solid bedrock of Manhattan Island. If you want to go inside, you may take a tour of Wall Street’s most famous bank’s museum and vault.
A robust multilevel security system protects the vault, with a 90-ton steel cylinder guarding the single-entry point. The nine-foot-tall cylinder is housed within a 140-ton steel-and-concrete frame that forms an airtight and watertight seal when closed. When the vault is closed, four steel rods are placed into holes in the cylinder, and time clocks are activated, effectively locking the vault until the next business day.
Massive steel-reinforced concrete walls surround the vault, and security cameras monitor activities inside and outside the vault 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as motion sensors when the vault is closed. The vault control team’s constant surveillance also guarantees that the highest security measures are followed at all times. To make it that bit harder to break in, the gold is safeguarded by the New York Fed’s sophisticated building security system and the armed Federal Reserve police force.
Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is one of the most secure vaults in the world, built to resist an asteroid strike or any nuclear event. The vault contains approximately 1,165,041 variations of seeds in the event of a mass extinction disaster, with the goal of having a spectrum of crop diversity if Earth ever had to rebuild. The vault has a maximum capacity of 4.5 million seed variants!
The seed vault is the ultimate safeguard for the global food supply. It’s kept at a temperature of -18°C in custom-made three-ply foil containers. This reduces metabolic activity and preserves the seeds’ health for a long period of time.
The fact that it’s built 120 metres into a mountain with only a modest entry on the outside before a succession of high-security tunnels and doors is what makes this facility so safe. This is also not a tourist attraction, so you can’t walk inside and see what’s beyond the closed doors. The region near the vaults’ entrance is notorious for being deserted, and they recommend that if you attempt the trek to one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, you keep your distance.
Another key problem if you were to try and get into the famous seed vault would be the dangerous climate and wildlife around it. This frozen tundra is prone to massive avalanches, which can be fatal. As well as this, the likelihood of getting frostbite is very high, with all year round having freezing temperatures. On top of how secure this place is, it is surrounded by polar bears, with the government suggesting you don’t hike without a weapon for your own safety. Overall, it’s an ideal location for building a very secure building without having to invest in costly security systems or even signs that state “visitors stay out.”
Fort Knox, Kentucky, United States
Regarded as the safest spot on the planet, Fort Knox, the United States’ bullion vault located in Louisville, Kentucky, is where the United States keeps the majority of its gold supply. The vault door, in the core of this seemingly impregnable fortress, is secured using a combination entered by at least ten different staff members, none of whom know more than their own piece of the code.
The Fort protects gold rumoured to have a value in the existing gold market of $190 billion. The vault also contains a reserve of drugs and historic documents, including the original copy of the US Constitution’s Declaration of Independence as well as the original draft of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Fort Knox is surrounded by Apache helicopters, gates, guards, tanks, concrete lined granite walls, and hundreds of alarms, so even getting close to Fort Knox is a challenge, especially given that the entire fort is encircled by a US military base home to 40,000 soldiers. To further secure Fort Knox, it is believed that the grounds are surrounded by land mines, electric fences, radar sensors, laser-triggered machine guns, as well as its own power plant and water supply, so any effort to break in will be promptly shut down and usually result in serious consequences. In fact, no one has managed to break in before because no one has ever even attempted it, and its safe to say we don’t recommend it.
Area 51, Nevada, United States
You’ve probably heard at least one conspiracy theory about Area 51. The near-mythical US military research complex in the Nevada desert is guarded by motion sensors, armed guards, and a no-fly zone that extends across the whole site, making it one of the safest places on the planet.
Area 51 is a high-security military research facility renowned for storing some of the world’s biggest secrets and coverups. Many conspiracy theorists believe it is also famous for concealing information about aliens and UFO encounters. It has become so secretive about what happens on this site since it was constructed during the Cold War that it has only just become visible on satellite images.
The 1,500 personnel are unable to travel by car and instead will board a private aircraft from a special terminal at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, flying under the name “Janet Airlines,” with air traffic control referring to the airport as “somewhere.” The fact that Area 51 is so classified for what seems to be a US Air Force testing facility adds to the scepticism.
Even though Area 51 comprises 38,400 acres, the large expanse of open land is patrolled with armed guards and motion sensors that can discern the difference between human and animal activity, so there is no place to hide for any trespassers.
The White House, Washington DC, United States
The White House, which houses the President of the United States, is one of the most secure structures in the world. The first line of defence for the White House is a very robust iron fence that provides the White House with excellent perimeter protection. Alarms and infrared sensors identify intruders, further securing these barriers. It’s then backed up by security stations with bulletproof glass. The roof is continually manned by a crew of some of the world’s most highly trained snipers. The building houses around 1,200 informed secret service operatives, meaning that the White House has a private security force of some of the world’s most trained bodyguards.
Unlike some of the other buildings on our list, you may enter the White House and go on a tour, but you must book at least 21 days in advance to give time for background checks to be made on all guests. The White House also has a no-fly zone within a 15-mile radius, and the city of Washington has surface-to-air missiles strategically placed across the city to intercept any unauthorised aircraft.
The White House also contains a “situation room,” which has appeared in a number of films. Even in the case of a nuclear explosion, activities would be able to continue in this underground bunker. The bunker is also said to include a network of underground tunnels that may be used to escape the house in the event of an emergency.
FAQs
Fort Knox, Kentucky, United States
Regarded as the safest spot on the planet, Fort Knox, the United States' bullion vault located in Louisville, Kentucky, is where the United States keeps the majority of its gold supply.
What is the most secured place in the world? ›
Fort Knox, Kentucky, United States
Regarded as the safest spot on the planet, Fort Knox, the United States' bullion vault located in Louisville, Kentucky, is where the United States keeps the majority of its gold supply.
What is the most heavily guarded bank in the world? ›
The maximum-security gold vault in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is located in the basem*nt of the Manhattan building. The Fed is the custodian of the valuable reserves and has the responsibility of guarding it for account holders, such as the U.S. government and central banks.
Is the White House the most secure building? ›
As you'd expect, the home of the President of the United States is heavily guarded, and it remains one of the most secure buildings in the world, with features including an iron fence around the entire premises, bulletproof windows, a nuclear bunker, and a 15 mile radius no-fly zone over the area.
What country is #1 in safety? ›
According to the GPI 2021 report, Iceland was ranked the safest country in the world for the 13th consecutive year, followed by New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, and Denmark. The GPI takes into account 23 indicators that are grouped under three domains: ongoing conflict, safety and security, and militarization.
What is the most heavily guarded place in America? ›
From books, history classes, and TV shows, most Americans know Fort Knox was built to store massive deposits of gold. It is the most heavily guarded military base and one of the most secure places in the world. Aside from what we know of its gold reserves, Fort Knox is a mystery that few have ever seen.
What is the most secure vault in the world? ›
The Church of LDS built the Granite Mountain Records Vault in 1965 to preserve and protect records of importance to the church, including its vast collection of family history microfilms. The vault is a large archive and is excavated 600 feet into the north side of Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Which is the most secretive bank in the world? ›
Share this article. In the mythology of private banking, Banque Pictet & Cie SA stands apart. Over the course of more than two centuries, the Swiss institution has discreetly tended to the assets of the very rich, led by a small crop of partners who form the most exclusive men-only club anywhere outside the Vatican.
Which country has the best banking secrecy? ›
Swiss banking secrecy was first codified with the Banking Act of 1934, thus making it a crime to disclose bank client information to third parties without a client's consent, thus making Switzerland a world famous haven for bank secrecy provided to select clients via numbered bank accounts or underground bank vaults.
What is the top secret building in USA? ›
Standing as the iconic symbol of the U.S. defense program in Washington, DC, the Pentagon is one of the nation's most highly guarded structures. Defended by the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), top measures are in place to guard against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks.
They carry semiautomatic pistols, shotguns and machine guns. On the White House roof, teams of snipers keep watch. The Secret Service says they are the best in the world and must qualify every month hitting targets accurately at 1,000 yards.
What is the most secure place in North America? ›
When evaluated by 2022 GPI, the top three safest countries in North America are Canada, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Is USA a safe country to live? ›
The United States ranks at 129th with a score of 2.44, marking the country's score "low." Just above the U.S. is Azerbaijan, and just below is Brazil.
Where is US ranked in safety? ›
According to the Global Peace Index, the USA ranks 129th out of 163 countries, suggesting there is a risk of danger to both residents and visitors to the country. However, the US consists of 50 distinct states, all with their own variations in culture and society.
What country has least crime? ›
1. Iceland. Iceland, the land of fire and ice, is also the safest country in the world according to the Global Peace Index. With a low homicide rate, low level of violent crime, and limited access to small arms, Iceland is truly a peaceful country for its residents and visitors.
Who guards the gold at Fort Knox? ›
Fort Knox is guarded by members of the U.S. Mint Police, one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies. It was established in 1792. The officers undergo 12 weeks of basic training, followed by five weeks of field training.
What is the hardest home safe to break into? ›
Biometric safes are the most secure type of safe. They are considered “high security” safes and demand a steep price. However, due to their quality, it is incredibly difficult to break into a biometric safe.
What is the hardest safe to crack in the world? ›
The Svalbard Seed Bank, also known as the Global Seed Vault, is a secure vault located on a small island called Spitsbergen in Norway. Some people declare it to be the most secure building in the world. This modern bank vault holds samples of crops necessary to restart life on earth should an apocalyptic event occur.
Is there an uncrackable safe? ›
There is no such thing as an uncrackable safe for everything that man can make someone else can break. However there are many safes that are designed to make life REALLY hard for any would be safe cracker me included.
What bank do billionaires use? ›
Citi Private Bank is the private banking department of Citibank. Their services are reserved for worldly and wealthy individuals as well as their families. While eligible clients can get deposit accounts and retirement accounts as you'd find at any other bank, there are also many specialized products and services.
In 2016, the Bangladesh Bank was breached, resulting in the loss of $81 million. This highly sophisticated attack is seen by many as the largest bank robbery in history, later found to be the works of nation state hackers.
What bank is the most honest? ›
The Lifestory Research 2022 America's Most Trusted® Bank Study found Chase the most trusted bank. The America's Most Trusted® Study is a large-scale survey of consumers in the United States that seeks to identify the brands that people trust the most within their respective industries.
What is the safest country to bank your money? ›
Here is our list of the most secure, stable banks for protecting your assets abroad.
- SINGAPORE. ...
- CANADA. ...
- FRANCE. ...
- SWEDEN. ...
- NORWAY. ...
- NETHERLANDS. ...
- SWITZERLAND. ...
- GERMANY. Americans may be surprised to learn they can open offshore accounts in Germany (albeit at low-interest rates), which has topped the list of the world's safest banks.
Contact: Anthea Lawson +44(20) 7492 5882 or +44(0)7872 620855. Note to editors: The FATF has named 8 countries as not having sufficient money laundering regulations in place: Iran, Angola, North Korea, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, São Tomé and Príncipe.
What countries do people hide money? ›
The top five best countries to hide money are as follows:
- Cayman Islands.
- Switzerland.
- Belize.
- Singapore.
- China.
Empire State Building in New York
The most recognizable skyscraper in the world was erected in the late 1920s and has been a mobbed tourist destination ever since: These days, it attracts about 4 million visitors each year.
What is the top secret Manhattan building? ›
New York City is a city of many secrets, and one of them is the City's secret building—AT&T long lines building on 33 Thomas street. This building is famous for being mysterious and eerie.
Who is the deadliest U.S. Army snipers? ›
Adelbert Waldron is one of the deadliest snipers in US history. Waldron served as a sniper for the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was attached to the 9th infantry division. For a long time, Waldron held the record for confirmed kills with 109.
Who is the most deadliest U.S. snipers? ›
| Chris Kyle |
|---|
| Nickname(s) | "The Legend", "Devil of Ramadi", "Tex", "American Sniper" |
| Born | April 8, 1974 Odessa, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 2, 2013 (aged 38) Erath County, Texas, U.S. |
| Buried | Texas State Cemetery |
12 more rowsFORT BENNING, Ga. - It's official. Soldiers from the U.S. Army National Guard are the best snipers in the world. Four National Guard sniper teams emerged as best contenders in the 2023 International Sniper Competition, and all finished in the top 10, with team 7 placing first.
Based on the number of homicides, the ten safest states in America are New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming, Maine, Rhode Island, North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii, Idaho, and Alaska. New Hampshire is the safest state in the US, with just 20 reported homicide incidents.
Which city in Mexico is the safest? ›
The city in Mexico considered the safest with the lowest crime rate is Merida, located in Yucatan. It's also one of the most affordable cities in Mexico, making it a popular destination for retirees and expats. Merida's low crime rate makes it an excellent choice for visiting or living.
What is the most secure house in America? ›
Fair Field Estate in the Hamptons, New York
One of the most expensive and secure homes in the United States is in the New York Hamptons. This billionaire home is owned by the Fair Field Estate and features a 91-foot-long dining room, a 164-seat theater and a garage that can hold 100 cars.
Which bank is the most protected? ›
5 Safest Banks in the U.S.
| Bank | Assets |
|---|
| JP Morgan Chase | $3.2 trillion |
| Bank of America | $2.42 trillion |
| Citi | $1.77 trillion |
| Wells Fargo | $1.72 trillion |
1 more rowJun 1, 2023
Most Trusted Banks
| Bank | Trust Rating |
|---|
| Truist | 79.3 | ** |
| Union Bank | 77.3 | ** |
| Wells Fargo | 76.1 | ** |
| HSBC | 73.4 | ** |
11 more rowsMar 28, 2023
With $5.5 trillion in assets, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited is the largest bank in the world, as measured by total assets. Given its size and dominance, it's no surprise that ICBC China has earned high marks for financial stability and profitability.
Which bank has high security? ›
List of Safest NBFCs in India
| Sr. No. | Name of the NBFC | Score |
|---|
| 1 | Bajaj Finance FD | FAAA |
| 2 | PNB Housing Finance FD | FAA+ |
| 3 | Mahindra Finance FD | FAAA |
Some of the most popular banks for millionaires and billionaires include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and UBS. Other examples of banks that may be popular among the ultra-rich include: Private banks: Private banks are banks that offer specialized financial services to high net worth individuals and families.
Where is the safest place to keep cash? ›
Certificate of deposit (CD)
Like a savings account, a certificate of deposit (CD) is often a safe place to keep your money. One big difference between a savings account and a CD is that a CD locks up your money for a set term. If you withdraw the cash early, you'll be charged a penalty.
Which bank is safest in USA? ›
Asset-heavy, diversified and regulated banks like JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, PNC Bank and U.S. Bank are among the safest banks in the U.S. and should be considered if you are weighing your options.
List of largest banks in the United States
| Rank | Bank name | Headquarters location |
|---|
| 1 | JPMorgan Chase | New York City |
| 2 | Bank of America | Charlotte |
| 3 | Citigroup | New York City |
| 4 | Wells Fargo | San Francisco |
80 more rowsHealthy large cap stocks also tend to hold up relatively well during downturns. Investing in broad funds can help reduce recession risk through diversification. Bonds and dividend stocks can provide income to cushion investors against downturns.
What is the #1 most trusted bank in America? ›
The Lifestory Research 2022 America's Most Trusted® Bank Study found Chase the most trusted bank. The America's Most Trusted® Study is a large-scale survey of consumers in the United States that seeks to identify the brands that people trust the most within their respective industries.
Who dominates the World Bank? ›
The United States was a leading force in the establishment of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in 1944 and remains the largest shareholder of the World Bank Group today.
How much money is there in the world? ›
There is nearly $83 trillion in the total global money supply, $48.9 trillion of which is M1.
What is the best bank to not get hacked? ›
Chase. One of the biggest banks, Chase, is also one of the most secure banks to keep your money safe. Chase offers Zero Liability Protection, so if unauthorized transactions are made under your name, you won't be held responsible.
What banks have been hacked the most? ›
The 10 Biggest Data Breaches in the Finance Sector
- Equifax Data Breach. ...
- Heartland Payment Systems Data Breach. ...
- Capital One Data Breach. Date: March 2019. ...
- JPMorgan Chase Data Breach. Date: October 2014. ...
- Experian. Date: August 2020. ...
- Block. Date: Apr 2022. ...
- Desjardins Group. Date: June 2019. ...
- Westpac Banking Corporation. Date: June 2013.
