Before getting into specifics, let’s start with a physical security definition. Simply put, physical security is the protection of your people, property and assets. This includes the physical protection of equipment and tech, including data storage, servers and employee computers.
Physical security is often jokingly referred to as just being “guards and gates”, but modern physical security systems consist of multiple elements and measures, for example:
- Site layout and security configuration: where are your weak points? What needs the most protection?
- Visibility of critical areas: including lighting and video cameras
- Access control: from simple locks through to keypads and biometric access
- Perimeter protection: the “guards and gates” aspect of physical security
- Intrusion detection: including motion sensors, cameras and tripwire alarms
- Infrastructure protection: including power, fire, network connectivity and water
- Staff training and incident response: do your employees know how to handle an incident, and do you have an emergency response process in place?
As you can see, the physical security examples above are extremely varied, touching on every aspect of a site and its functions. Some physical security plans are determined by environmental factors, such as your site layout, whilst some are behavioral, like staff training. So, to revisit the physical security definition above, successful protection of people, property and assets involves a range of physical security measures.