What is Physical Facility Access Policy?

An office physical security policy is a plan that involves securing and protecting information technology equipment, data, and facilities. That is done by using control measures such as locks, alarm systems, and surveillance cameras. The purpose of this policy is to outline all identifying characteristics and procedures that the organization uses to secure corporate assets. An office physical security policy also outlines what is expected from employees with regard to safety and security. Basically, this policy protects entry points to facilities or access to data centers by controlling physical access. That can include card-based systems, biometric scanning mechanisms, and others methods of implementing security control over entry.

An office physical security policy will help keep your business safe from data theft, unauthorized access of sensitive information, and cyber-attacks. It can also protect against fire, water damage, power surges, and other physical dangers that could harm IT equipment.

The Importance of Physical Security Policy

When you think of physical security, what comes to mind? For most people, it’s things like CCTV systems or restricted access to certain areas. While these are indeed both forms of physical security – they’re not the only ones. One of the most common types of physical security found in the workplace is a simple lock on a door. But there’s more to physical security than just entrances and exits. What about windows and fire doors? What about computers and photocopiers, or other valuable equipment? They all need some form of protection from those who could wish to harm your business.

As a business owner, it’s good to be aware of what you need to know about physical security and how this fits into broader law enforcement. In case of emergencies such as fires, floods, storms, or acts of terrorism – you will need to know who to contact and what your responsibilities and rights are. It is essential to understand what you need to do in a significant incident such as a fire or terrorist attack in the US. Knowing these procedures will help you protect staff and customers, reduce casualties and ensure that your organization can carry out any subsequent police investigations quickly and efficiently.

Physical security is something that is often overlooked when it comes to the safety of your business. Most businesses already understand how vital their digital security is but fail to realize their physical security needs just as much attention. Having strong physical security measures in place can help protect you from all kinds of crime, both outside and inside your business.

Recommendations

1. It is recommended that a physical security policy for entry be developed in order to ensure that all employees and visitors understand who can enter a facility, how they can gain entry, what areas within the building they have access to, and what areas are off-limits. This policy requires that all employees have their access credentials updated often (at least once or twice a year) to ensure they stay current on the latest security procedures regarding handling these cards/badges. Failing to update access credentials can significantly undermine this policy since it is vital for these systems to be constantly updated to remain secure.
2. Employees should only carry their access credentials with them when they need to use them. They should never leave the card/badge unattended since this makes them easy targets for theft or tampering by malicious individuals. If an employee is required to enter a facility but must leave their access credential in their car, they should request an alternate form of authentication that doesn’t require the card/badge. An example of this is having turnstiles at secure entryways that can be used with a code instead of an access card/badge for employees who are required to enter the building but don’t have their credentials.

 

3. Employees should never put company assets (like badges, laptops, computers, etc.) in their car overnight since there are too many opportunities for the items to be tampered with or stolen. Any piece of equipment that is not being used at the current time should be secured within the company facility.

 

4. Employees should be trained to never give out their access credentials (or any other security information like user names, passwords, etc.) to anyone who requests it. That includes technicians/engineers sent by the company since they could easily pass on this information to an outside entity (such as a threat that may be trying to breach your physical security) that can then use this information to gain entry into your facility.

 

5. It is recommended that all employees receive physical security training that covers topics such as entry procedures, how to properly handle physical security equipment (like badges/cards), and what to do if they suspect a breach of physical security.

 

6. Routine inspection process should be implemented to ensure the proper use of access cards/badges throughout the organization. That includes inspections of secure entryways, access cards/badges, laptops, computers, servers, etc.

Conclusion

Physical security is an essential part of running a business, and sometimes it can be challenging to ensure that there are enough physical security measures in place. Well-known multinational organizations are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals, leading to the loss of sensitive data that can seriously damage their reputation and bottom line. A recent report from cloud service provider Netwrix found that among 1,500 employees surveyed in 15 countries across seven different industry verticals, one out of every 28 respondents admitted to sharing passwords with colleagues, customers, or business partners. This lack of accountability is one reason why the number of cyber-attacks has increased over the years.

 

Security policies are among the most important tools for mitigating this problem. By creating clearly defined security guidelines and implementing measures to monitor behavior, your organization can help reduce unplanned downtime and save money.

Hopefully, the tips we’ve outlined in this article will help you get started with some basic policies and procedures for keeping your company safe from all kinds of threats. If you want more information on this topic or need assistance putting these principles into action, let us know! Our team would love to partner with you and provide guidance along the way as needed.