Better safe than sorry, right? Absolutely.
While investing in physical security measures for your business might seem obvious, prioritizing them is the key to preventing damage and minimizing loss of time, money, and resources. Physical security keeps facilities, people, and assets safe from threats.
A growing number of security departments and companies see the value of physical security software for managing offices and workforces. In particular, real-time incident reporting and office monitoring help prevent breaches in physical working environments.
What is physical security?
Physical security protects personnel, property, data, and physical assets from actions and events that cause damage or loss to an organization. Businesses take physical security measures to safeguard equipment and buildings against security vulnerabilities, natural disasters, theft, vandalism, and terrorism.
Physical security maintenance is crucial to prevent the loss of resources and reduce the chances of attempted criminal activity.
Most modern workplaces understand the need to protect networks and data from cyber attacks. However, cybersecurity often overshadows physical security, a basic necessity that ensures the smooth functioning of every day on-site operations.
Importance of physical security
A break-in is not fun. Physical security in workplaces is as important as maintaining security in the comfort of your home, since many people spend up to and beyond 8 hours of their day.
Even if you and your business depend heavily on a robust IT infrastructure, your platforms require significant physical security measures to safeguard data, servers, and networks. Any virtual machine or cloud-based application is only as safe as its physical server and data center network.
Source: ittropolis
Physical security ensures that an enterprise's people and assets are safe from potential internal and external threats, such as physical deterrents and intruders. Leaving building perimeters and spaces vulnerable increases the likelihood of physical attacks, personnel accidents, and data losses.
Types of physical attacks include:
- Accessing secure areas
- Stealing or damaging business assets
- Gaining unauthorized access to critical business and data applications
- Uploading malware onto networks and systems
Regardless of the type and extent of the attack, physical security is critical to protecting sensitive material control areas. These include server rooms or data centers from on-site third parties. Keeping confidential information safe from internal members who don’t have the necessary access must also be a priority.
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What are physical security controls?
A comprehensive physical security program outlines all the controls and components vital to protecting organizational assets. These controls include technology and specialized hardware to create layers of security that work in sync with cybersecurity policies to guard against threats.
Common physical security measures might be:
- Building design and layout
- Environmental controls (prediction and warning systems)
- Emergency response alerts
- Employee and security training
- Intrusion detection (lockdown controls)
- Fire protection
Developing a complete physical security system considers various components to save the business from incurring losses due to asset damage and theft.
The four main principles to consider when investing in security measures are deterrence, detection, delay, and response. Let’s examine these and discuss how they relate to physical security best practices.
Deterrence
Components and physical barriers such as walls, doors, turnstiles, or revolving doors keep intruders away from buildings and secure areas.
Deterrence can also incorporate implementing technology like GPS tracking, access controls, and security cameras to discourage unauthorized personnel from attempting to enter the premises.
Detection
Once deterrents are installed, you must invest in detection measures to help identify potential threats. Having effective object detection systems prevents crimes before they happen.
Common detection components are sensors, alarms, breach detection mechanisms, and security notifications that disarm and isolate intruders' activities.
Delay
Certain security systems are designed to slow intruders' entry by initiating a countdown once a security alert is sent out. The security system must be disarmed before the time runs out.
Other measures that delay unauthorized personnel from entering secure premises include key card requirements and verification to mitigate damage.
Response
You have a security system and measures in place, but something bad happens anyway. So what do you do then?
You invest in security response components to minimize the effects of the breach or intrusion.
Physical security response methods include communication systems, perimeter lockdowns, and contacting emergency services and first responders such as law enforcement, paramedics, or firefighters.
How does physical security work?
Now that we've covered what physical security measures can look like let's answer, "But what is the purpose of physical security safeguards, and how do they really work?"
To create successful physical security controls, a framework tailored to a company’s needs must be developed. A physical security program maintains business continuity, unifies physical and cybersecurity measures, and fights larger threats and unexpected challenges.
External physical security threats:
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Natural catastrophes
- Terrorism
- Workplace violence
Internal physical security threats:
- Data breaches
- Unauthorized sharing of sensitive information
- Easily identifiable authentication processes
- Slow and limited incident responses
The three main components of a physical security plan are access control, surveillance, and testing. The framework's success depends on implementing these components and monitoring them continuously.
Access control
One of the biggest aspects of physical security is limiting unauthorized physical access to certain assets and confidential operation areas. This restriction reduces the exposure of these assets to authorized persons only.
Investing in first-line physical security systems such as gates, walls, and doors that prevent break-ins and provide safety from natural disasters is the primary way to achieve access control. These systems can be modified per security needs, including additional locks, barbed wire, and ID scanners at entry points.
To improve access controls within the building, businesses can provide security access-level permissions to each employee and security guard. Implementing biometric identification across the organization and multi-factor authentications for company devices and laptops offers further safety.
Surveillance
Ever get the feeling that you’re being watched? It’s not a good feeling, but surveillance equipment offers prevention and recovery against physical security incidents for businesses.
The biggest upside of using surveillance technology and personnel is that it provides visual evidence to monitor criminal activity and identify perpetrators. Examples of surveillance measures include sensors, notification systems, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
CCTVs are effective as they elicit caution in would-be vandals and burglars. Video surveillance software also effectively captures real-time evidence against unauthorized movement and entry.
Testing
Regular security testing is integral in understanding how a business can address criminal tactics. Establishing active testing protocols and extensive security policies improves the quality of physical security procedures.
Active also helps gauge how a company handles disasters. Developing a disaster recovery (DR) plan and evaluating its objectives and role assignments minimize the risk of mistakes. Disaster recovery-as-a-service (DRaaS) solutions give companies backup and disaster recovery services to protect applications, data, and network infrastructures.
Best physical security software
Physical security solutions help establishments monitor personnel movement, receive real-time security alerts, and file reports. They also provide detailed analytics and reporting capabilities from security teams.
Benefits of physical security technology:
- Safeguards employees, data, and business sites
- Prevents unauthorized access to premises and assets
- Helps maintain trust and confidence with internal and external stakeholders
- Works to mitigate damage caused by threats and disasters
To be included as a software solution within this category, a product must:
- Offer real-time GPS tracking
- Provide incident reporting functionality
- Contain communication tools that facilitate manager-to-officer contact
- Provide an activity log
* Below are the top 5 leading physical security software solutions from G2’s Fall 2024 Grid® Report. Some reviews may be edited for clarity.
1. Rhombus
Rhombus makes spaces safer and smarter with an intuitive user interface. It delivers an enterprise physical security platform by combining smart security cameras, IoT sensors, and integrations with third-party solutions under one unified console.
What users like best:
“Rhombus is an incredibly intuitive platform that doesn't require third-party support or services to set up or maintain. The hardware is reliable and robust, and our IT team loves keeping the footage in the cloud. The AI insights from Rhombus are amazing and help our security team become much more intelligent with actionable insights. Overall, Rhombus is smarter, easier, and less costly than any other security platform I have ever worked with.”
- Rhombus Review, Joe V.
What users dislike:
“There could be more polish on the interface, and we have experienced some issues with the bullets. The Rhombus support team is actively working on it.”
- Rhombus Review, Jonathan S.
2. Kastle
Kastle Systems is a leading provider of security technology solutions specializing in access control, visitor management, and emergency preparedness. It offers a range of products and services to help businesses protect their assets and ensure the safety of their employees and visitors.
What users like best:
"The team at Kastle is a pleasure to work with. The call center is always extremely helpful, responsive, and proactive in addressing any situation, making their customer service the best I've experienced. The technicians are highly knowledgeable and efficient in resolving system issues. We are working with them to install a Safetrust mobile platform for one of our tenants, and the process is going smoothly. Additionally, we use Kastle's InSite to monitor the number of people returning to work. The system is very user-friendly, and I frequently check the camera monitors and building occupancy a few times each month."
- Kastle Review, John C.
What users dislike:
"One challenge is that the system installation can take some time, so it's important to plan ahead and allow ample time for the process. Additionally, determining who your assigned project manager is can occasionally take a while. As with any organization, some project managers are stronger than others. I experienced a frustrating project where the project manager changed three times due to support issues at the project level."
- Kastle Review, Christine E.
3. Verkada
Verkada is a cloud-managed enterprise-building security software. The tool offers product lines for video security cameras, door-based access control, environmental sensors, alarms, and visitor management.
What users like best:
“We did a month-long trial and caught several offenders with their vape sensors. We ended up purchasing several to use, and they have been very beneficial in helping the fight against vaping. We have cameras that point to the areas where these sensors are so we know who is in the area when the alarms trigger. The cameras aren't Verkada cameras as we already had them installed, but using the time stamps from the notifications, I can pinpoint who was in the area when the alarm happened.”
- Verkada Review, Steve H.
What users dislike:
“This is not a dislike that would sway us from purchasing the product, but there is no bulk setup for the environmental sensors. We had to set the alerts up for each sensor. Verkada has this feedback and is working to implement it.”
- Verkada Review, Estill F.
4. Brivo
Brivo Systems is a provider of cloud-based access control solutions. They offer a platform that allows businesses to manage access to their facilities, including doors, gates, and elevators, using mobile devices, web browsers, or on-premises hardware. Brivo's solutions are designed to improve security, efficiency, and convenience for organizations of all sizes.
What users like best:
“The best part of Brivo is the comprehensive training that comes with it. The support team and continuous addition of new features make this a fantastic product. From fingerprints and fobs to cards, key codes, and mobile passes, Brivo understands what installers, users, and administrators need in a reliable system and incorporates these elements into their products. I highly recommend them."
- Brivo Review, Christopher P.
What users dislike:
"My only real complaint is the way we, as a dealer, have to access our customers' accounts. The need to grant ourselves access to remote programming, compared to how it used to be, is more of a hassle than necessary."
- Brivo Review, Charlie S.
5. Kisi
Kisi is a cloud-based access control platform that provides businesses with a secure and convenient way to manage facility access. It offers features like mobile access, visitor management, and integration with other systems, making it a popular choice for organizations looking to improve their security and efficiency.
What users like best:
"The product itself is amazing and incredibly easy to install. However, the best part about Kisi so far has been their exceptional customer service. I've been working with account executive Kalib Mickelson, who is extremely knowledgeable about the product inside and out. His customer service has been the best I've experienced in a long time—he responds to emails almost immediately and resolves issues quickly. Based on my experience with him, I would highly recommend Kisi to anyone!"
- Kisi Review, Andrew M.
What users dislike:
"The reporting can be a bit difficult to navigate. While it shows all events, finding a specific event in the exported spreadsheet feels like searching for a needle in a haystack."
- Kisi Review, Kiara H.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
As we’ve seen in recent times, disasters in all forms come unannounced and can shift how we view our day-to-day lives. Working conditions and patterns have changed forever and will remain susceptible to uncertainties.
In an increasingly unpredictable world, we must try to secure whatever we can control, especially when maintaining physical security in our workspaces. Employees, data, assets, and property are the most integral parts of any workplace, and their safety must be protected and prioritized.
Explore why you must integrate physical security measures with robust information security practices to protect your organization.
This article was originally published in 2022. It has been updated with new information. robust
Aayushi Sanghavi
Aayushi Sanghavi is a Campaign Coordinator at G2 for the Content and SEO teams at G2 and is exploring her interests in project management and process optimization. Previously, she has written for the Customer Service and Tech Verticals space. In her free time, she volunteers at animal shelters, dances, or attempts to learn a new language.
