Physical Security
The discipline of protecting people, premises and assets through layered, real-world measures — not just a camera on the wall.
Article
Physical security is layers, not a single product.
It's tempting to think of physical security as 'the CCTV system' or 'the alarm', but in practice it's a set of layers working together: perimeter (fencing, lighting, detection), access (who can get in, and how that's recorded), surveillance (what's being watched and by whom) and response (what happens when something is detected). A site can have excellent cameras and still be poorly protected if the response layer is weak.
Article
Start with a proper risk assessment, not a product list.
The right physical security measures depend entirely on what you're protecting and from what — a construction site's risks (plant theft, unauthorised access) are very different from a data centre's (sabotage, espionage, environmental hazard). A genuine site survey looks at your specific layout, hours of operation and asset value before recommending anything.
Article
The weakest layer sets your real level of protection.
A site with a strong perimeter but unmonitored access control is only as secure as that access control. Reviewing physical security holistically — rather than upgrading one system in isolation — is usually the highest-value thing a business can do before spending more on any single layer.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What are the main layers of physical security?
Perimeter, access control, surveillance and response — each layer should be assessed and, ideally, designed together.
How often should physical security be reviewed?
At minimum annually, and after any change to site layout, occupancy or known incidents.
Can physical security measures integrate with each other?
Yes — modern access control, CCTV and perimeter alarms are designed to share data, so an event in one layer can trigger a response in another automatically.
Get a physical security review
Request a free site survey to find out where your real exposure is.