Covers the measures that organizations take to protect their physical assets from threats such as theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.
5 minutes
5 Questions
Physical Security in CISSP encompasses the protection of tangible assets, personnel, hardware, networks and data from physical threats and vulnerabilities. It represents the first line of defense in information security, focusing on measures to prevent unauthorized physical access, damage, or interference to an organization's systems.
Key components of physical security include:
1. Facility Design: Building layout, construction materials, and perimeter security (fences, gates, bollards).
2. Access Control Systems: Badge readers, biometrics, mantraps/turnstiles that limit entry to authorized individuals.
3. Environmental Controls: Protection against fire, flood, extreme temperatures, humidity, and power issues through HVAC systems, fire suppression, and power conditioning.
4. Surveillance: CCTV cameras, security guards, and monitoring systems to detect suspicious activities.
5. Lighting: Properly illuminated facilities to deter intruders and enhance surveillance effectiveness.
6. Intrusion Detection: Motion sensors, glass break detectors, and alarm systems to alert security personnel.
7. Asset Management: Equipment tracking, secure storage, and proper disposal procedures.
8. Emergency Response: Planning for disasters, evacuations, and business continuity.
Physical security requires a defense-in-depth approach, implementing multiple layers of controls to protect against various threat vectors. The CISSP professional must consider factors like cost-benefit analysis, regulatory compliance, and the integration with administrative and technical controls.
Failure to implement adequate physical security can compromise even the most sophisticated technical security controls, as attackers may bypass logical controls through physical means. Therefore, a comprehensive security program must address physical vulnerabilities as part of a holistic security strategy.Physical Security in CISSP encompasses the protection of tangible assets, personnel, hardware, networks and data from physical threats and vulnerabilities. It represents the first line of defense in information security, focusing on measures to prevent unauthorized physical access, damage, or inter…