Weekly Security Tip - Strengthen Your Office’s Physical Security Before an Incident Happens
Headline: Unauthorized visitors, tailgating, and poor physical controls can expose sensitive systems. Here’s how to stay protected.
Why it matters:
Physical security is often the weakest link in a firm’s cybersecurity posture. A criminal doesn’t need to hack your firewall if they can simply walk through the door, plug in a device, steal a laptop, or access documents left in the open.
For firms subject to Reg S-P, Safeguards Rule, cyber-insurance controls, and vendor-access requirements, physical security is not optional — it is part of your required risk-management program. Many breaches (and regulatory fines) involve physical failures: tailgating, lost devices, unlocked server rooms, or employees bypassing controls for convenience.
A few simple steps dramatically reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access or data exposure.
Quick Tips
What You Should Do:
Strengthen your firm’s physical protection with these core practices:
Enforce controlled access. Require keycards, badges, or PINs for all staff — and never allow “tailgating” into secure areas.
Secure sensitive rooms. Server rooms, networking closets, and file storage areas should remain locked at all times with limited, logged access.
Protect endpoints. Enable automatic screen-locking, use cable locks in public-facing areas, and require secure storage of laptops when not in use.
Verify all visitors. Require sign-in, escort procedures, and ID badges for contractors, vendors, and temporary workers.
Keep confidential documents out of sight. Use clean-desk policies and shredding bins to prevent physical data leakage.
Monitor your environment. Use cameras, motion sensors, and periodic after-hours checks to validate that your controls are working.
Call to Action:
Choose one physical security control this week — such as visitor procedures, server-room access, or workstation security — and perform a quick audit. Confirm the control is being followed and update it if needed.
A five-minute review today can prevent an incident tomorrow.
