Given the spike in threats, today’s business owners prioritize protecting their employees, data, and physical assets. In order to protect personnel, physical assets, and confidential data, businesses are giving priority to their physical security systems.

We’ll go over the various risks to your company in this guide, along with how physical security measures can keep you safe. We will go over all the newest and best security measures, including video surveillance, analytics, and access control systems. Make sure you have the appropriate physical security measures in place to ensure that your company is not open to attack.

A combination of alarms, surveillance cameras, lighting systems, access control locks, and other security measures can be used as physical security measures. Businesses should prioritize advanced security because it can shield them from financial losses brought on by theft, abuse, or vandalism as well as possible reputational harm. Additionally, it contributes to the safety and security of workers at work.

Businesses can identify risks and hazards before they arise, whether on purpose or by accident, thanks to physical security, which also helps to create a safe workplace. Protection against unwanted physical access to people, things, and data is provided by it.
For businesses, physical security is essential because it guards against theft and vandalism as well as unauthorized entry into the building. Another way to guarantee that workers feel safe at work is to implement a thorough physical security system.

Physical security risks are any threats, like theft, vandalism, intrusion, or unauthorized access, that could endanger your company. They can originate from internal sources like resentful workers as well as external ones like those trying to steal trade secrets, intellectual property, or tangible assets. The following are the most frequent physical security threats:

• Theft or break-in of material possessions 
• Theft of trade secrets, private information, and intellectual property 
• Vandalism 
• Cyber attacks 
• Unauthorized entry 
• Natural catastrophes 
• Destroying 
• Human carelessness or error

Since these threats can arise from anywhere, no company can be completely protected from possible attacks unless they have put the appropriate physical and technological security measures in place. Because of this, it’s critical to understand the risks that could affect your company and the precautions you can take to keep it safe.

Cloud-Based Access Management:

This kind of access control lets users into restricted areas by using cloud-based technology. Depending on their position within the company, a building owner might, for instance, grant certain employees access to particular areas of the office. On-premises trained staff or information technology assets are not necessary to accomplish this kind of work.

Digital Security Control:

On-premise systems, bio-metrics, two-factor authentication, and modern hardware are all examples of this kind of access control.

An Overview of Managing Physical Security

Organizations can install a few different physical security measures in their buildings. Among the most typical are the following:

Access Control:
This kind of security is more comprehensive and covers a range of techniques to maintain a building safe, including intrusion alarms, visitor control, video surveillance, and other devices that support total situational awareness across buildings.
Video Surveillance:
This kind of security system has cameras, DVRs, and NVRs, and it can be watched over from a distance or in person. The purpose of a video surveillance management system is to keep an eye on entry points and stop unwanted access.
Mobile Credentialing:
Smartphones and other mobile devices are used by this kind of security system as credentials to enter restricted areas. It makes access control easier for businesses to manage by doing away with the need for physical keys or cards. Administrators can easily grant or revoke access as needed with its assistance.
Physical Barriers:
Physical security measures such as walls, gates, and fences are employed to establish a safe boundary and discourage trespassers and malevolent individuals.
Key-less Entry:
Digital locks that are controlled by a code, key card, or smartphone are used in this kind of access control. Physical keys are no longer required with key-less entry, which also simplifies access control management for companies.
Intrusion Detection:
Motion sensors, contact sensors, and other gadgets that notify you of an intruder’s presence are included in this kind of physical security.
Emergency Response:
Alarm systems and panic buttons that notify the authorities in the event of an emergency are examples of this kind of physical security. It also has tools for command center operations that offer real situational awareness and allow for responses in almost real time.
Visitor Management:
Businesses can track visitors, provide temporary access to visitors, and make sure that only authorized personnel are able to access certain areas with the help of this kind of physical security. These are but a few illustrations of the various kinds of physical security options available. New solutions to assist businesses in maintaining the safety and security of their facilities are continually emerging as technology progresses.

New physical security control methods are continually developing as technology develops to assist businesses in maintaining the safety and security of their facilities. In addition, requirements also evolve with time.

Physical security aims at staying one step ahead of threats, even those that go unnoticed. Although fire safety may be regulated, not all industries are subject to strict regulations. Businesses must customize their security programs to meet the specific requirements of federal buildings, which frequently have more requirements than those of commercial buildings.

You will be in a better position to defend your company against possible threats if you adhere to the following advice. Keeping an eye out and taking proactive steps to update your physical security measures when necessary is crucial. By doing this, you can guarantee the safety and security of your employees, data, and company.

Apply predictive analytics and historical data
Your current and future approaches to physical security should be informed by the information gathered from previous physical security incidents. Monitoring patterns in thefts, break-ins, and other dangers is one way to do this. Security teams can also use this historical data to fix vulnerabilities before they are used against them.

Verify that mobile devices are properly connected to the internet
Make use of contemporary systems that are compatible with apps and mobile devices. This gives an extra degree of protection to guarantee that only individuals with permission can enter specific areas, and it makes it simple and quick for the user to modify access levels.

Use AI to sort through information
A physical security system gathers a lot of data, which makes it difficult for teams to distinguish between nuisance alarms and genuine threats in a timely manner. Teams can respond quickly by using artificial intelligence to help filter this information.

Create a rigorous policy for physical access.
Describe the types of access that each person has and who is permitted to enter certain areas of the business. Ensure that all personnel within the organization are trained to adhere to these policies and are aware of them.

Lessen the use of manual access controls
Whenever possible, automate access control. This can involve limiting access to specific areas of the company to only those with the necessary credentials by utilizing RFID cards, bio-metrics, or other techniques.

Adopt secure cloud computing
Because of their affordability, scalability, and user-friendliness, cloud-based security solutions are growing in popularity. They offer an extra degree of protection for digital data as well as for physical access control. They also remove the requirement for information technology infrastructure ownership and management.

Keep an eye on and upgrade your system of physical security.
Make sure your physical security system is up to date and functioning properly by keeping a regular eye on it. Additionally, to stay abreast of changes in physical security threats, update your access control policy as needed.

Draft a disaster recovery strategy in case something goes wrong.
Always be prepared with a plan of action for handling threats or breaches in physical security. This should involve taking prompt action to notify the authorities and disable access as soon as possible in order to contain any threats as soon as possible.

Physical security protocols are not flawless. There are still some possible issues to take into account, like:

• Insufficient training provided to staff regarding physical security protocols. 
• unapproved access as a result of inadequate credentials or passwords. 
• unmonitored regions as a result of inadequate surveillance infrastructure. 
• vulnerabilities brought on by antiquated security measures. 
• problems with compliance brought on by laws like the GDPR or OSHA standards. 
• The dynamic landscape of threats.

Teams can address these issues to safeguard their facilities, personnel, and IT assets, though, if they have the appropriate physical security systems and equipment.

While there are certain core elements shared by many physical security plans, the specific security practices you should employ when developing a strong physical security strategy always depend on the particulars of your premises and the nature of your business. There are several best practices that are shared by operational security strategy and countermeasure examples.
Razor wires or fenced walls that are effective at keeping the typical bystander out of your security perimeter can be your first line of defense. Protective barriers, which stop people or cars from entering against their will, should always be combined with gates, security personnel, and other security checkpoints. Locks are a very efficient way to ensure that only people with the right level of access control or a key can open or close a door or gate once you reach the main building. It is relatively easy to link locks to a more extensive security monitoring system. At each of these locations, you can install alarms that sound when doors are left open for an extended period of time, when access cards are swiped excessively, or when a badge is swiped twice before being used to exit a space. What’s even better is that you can restrict access according to the time of day, preventing workers from leaving before and after work. In order to prevent teachers from pausing classes or latecomers from disturbing students, cloud-based access control systems can be programmed or integrated with calendars to keep the doors unlocked during specific times of the day. For instance, a yoga studio may find it helpful to leave the doors unlocked for up to five minutes after classes start, after which time they will automatically lock.
Surveillance cameras and sensors that monitor movement and environmental changes should be a part of your physical security, particularly after hours. Installing adequate security lighting is also necessary to guarantee that all areas under observation are always visible. All entry points to your building should be monitored by security personnel both during regular business hours and after hours. Indoors, business-critical spaces like server rooms and labs should also be secured. Your defenses against natural disasters like water leaks, smoke buildup, and fire include sprinkler systems, heat, smoke, and water detectors.
Using smart cards, bio-metric identification, and real-time clearance to ensure that only verified, authorized personnel are able to enter restricted areas or use particular amenities is your last line of defense against unauthorized access. In any case, before putting workable countermeasures in place for your facilities, you should evaluate every scenario that might arise and review earlier instances of physical security protocols that worked. You can ensure that only those individuals you have given permission to enter certain areas of your building can do so by implementing multiple layers of authentication. All of this is now feasible because of enormous technological advancements.
Conclusion
Even though every space is unique, many different kinds of physical security plans share some best practices. In particular, access control is a great way to ensure that you know who is entering your space, when they are entering, and how they are entering. You will save yourself trouble later on if you safeguard your sensitive data and valuable assets, especially in areas where you handle confidential or significant client information. Physical security can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Any space can be made more secure with the correct planning.