Physical security

Common prevention methods: Physical security

1.4.2 Identifying and preventing vulnerabilities

Identifying and preventing vulnerabilities — Note 8 of 8

What you need to know

Physical security involves using physical barriers and controls to protect computer hardware and data from physical threats like theft, tampering, or unauthorised access to facilities.

What to know

Methods include: locks on doors, keycard/biometric entry, CCTV cameras, security guards, alarms.
Protects against: theft of devices, unauthorised physical access to servers, tampering with hardware.

Key terms

Physical Security: Barriers and controls used to protect hardware and data from physical threats (theft, tampering, unauthorised physical access).

Exam technique

Tip:Physical security is often overlooked but is essential — even the best digital security is useless if someone can walk in and steal the server.
Tip:Physical security examples: locks on doors, keycard entry, biometric entry (e.g. fingerprint), passcode on doors, alarms, security guards, CCTV. Do NOT give 'passwords' — passwords are SOFTWARE-based, not physical.

Example:Common human errors that endanger security: (1) bringing in infected USB devices — prevent by blocking USB ports, (2) downloading infected files — prevent by restricting website access, (3) leaving computers logged in — prevent by auto-lock policies.

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Practise 1.4.2 questions

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