When we talk about security today, most of us immediately think of digital security. 

I agree that protecting your digital assets is important. But you still need to ensure the physical security of your business.

If you're not convinced, just consider the following statistics:

• Retail crime (e.g., shoplifting, robbery, vandalism) costs Australian businesses $9 billion a year.
• About 80% of Australian employees have considered or engaged in theft from their workplace.
• A 1999 survey found that 51.5% of Australian businesses experienced crime.

So, obviously, physical security is still important.

Since I've got a lot of experience in physical security technology, I've decided to make this follow-along guide for business owners.

Find the 10 most crucial physical security measures you should take to protect your business below.

4 Components Of Physical Security (Examples Included)

Let's first ensure you understand what physical security involves before we get to the specific measures you should take.

Physical security has four components or layers — deterrence, detection, delay, and response (DDDR): 

• Deterrence: The deterrence layer of physical security keeps people away from your business premises. You can establish deterrence with components such as video surveillance, physical barriers, lighting, etc. Basically, anything that would deter burglars and other intruders from your property would fall under this category.
• Detection: Detection devices like motion sensors and alarms will help you detect intruders and other physical security threats on your property.
• Delay: Delay refers to physical security systems that slow down the intruders in their attempt to enter your building, office, and other areas. Access control systems are one of the most commonly used delay systems. They require visitors to present their ID cards, badges, or other identification means to enter certain areas. Since intruders aren't likely to have those, access control will significantly slow them down.
• Response: Components that respond to intrusion and other threats fall under this category. Let's take alarm systems as an example. Most alarm systems go off and notify the authorities in case of a break-in — so they offer a response to security threats. 

So, what should you take away from this? 

 Well, one important lesson:

 Your physical security system is vulnerable if it lacks any one of these components.

For example, if you don't have any type of access control in place, intruders will be able to enter and exit your premises faster than they would if you had them. That might make all the difference.

The measures below will help you establish all four layers of physical security.

10 Physical Security Measures Organizations Must Take

Now that you understand that physical security requires a layered approach, let's get to the specifics.

Here's what measures you should take to minimize the risk of physical threats to your organization.

#1: Set Up Access Control Systems And Policies

An access control system allows you to restrict access to your business premises or specific areas within your office building.

There are three basic types of such systems:

• Mechanical access control system: This category includes offline devices that control access, such as locks, gates, doors, and turnstiles. Such devices don't offer a high level of physical security, but it's better to have them than nothing at all.
• Identification access control system: This system involves security personnel that will implement your access control policies. For example, you can have security guards checking visitors' identification at the front desk of your office building. Such a system will provide you with a high level of physical security.
• Electronic access control system: This category involves electronic devices that verify the identity of people trying to enter certain areas. If the devices fail to verify the identity — if a person isn't authorized to access an area — then that person won't be granted access. These systems also involve some type of identification, either through ID badges, fingerprint recognition, or card keys. Many consider electronic systems the most secure out of all the types listed here.

The most common misconception business owners have is that only big corporations can afford access control systems.

But that's not entirely true.

For example, you could set up access control with nothing but smart locks. 

Most of them have fingerprint recognition technology. So, the lock won't grant access to anyone whose fingerprint isn't registered in its memory.

What's more, most smart locks will automatically notify you of all entry attempts via smartphone apps. Some, like Baba locks, will also set off loud alarms if they detect intruders.

Besides setting up an access control system, you'll also need to define your access control policy and communicate it to your staff. 

Otherwise, you'll be pouring money down the drain because your employees won't follow the security protocols.

For example, your employees might leave the door to your office building open after entering. That will make it easy for intruders to gain access, and even the most sophisticated access controls will be useless.

#2: Set Up Video Surveillance

Video surveillance is key to keeping your business protected from burglars. 

Cameras can both deter and detect intruders, not to mention how helpful they can be in identifying suspects.

But maybe you're wondering where to place your cameras. 

Physical security experts can help you figure that out. But you can also follow the general recommendations for businesses.

Most businesses need cameras in the same places:

• Around the point of sale (POS) locations
• Around poorly lit areas
• Around entry and exit points
• Around walkways
• Around common burglar targets (e.g., electronic devices, confidential documents)

In the best-case scenario, you'd set up surveillance cameras both inside and outside your office building. 

You'd also hire a professional physical security company to monitor them for you.

But, to be honest, most organizations can't afford that.

Luckily, there's a more budget-friendly option that you can implement instead. 

You can monitor your cameras yourself or have one of your employees do it for you.

Nowadays, you can connect most surveillance cameras with smartphone apps. 

Apps allow you to monitor what's happening inside and outside your office in real time and at the click of a button.

#3: Lock Your Server Rooms

If an intruder or a malevolent employee gains access to your server room, they could severely damage your business. 

Besides locking your server room, I suggest you take additional measures to protect it.

For one, you can allow access to only your IT staff. 

That way, you'll minimize the risk of security threats. Plus, you'll be able to narrow down your list of suspects if anything goes wrong.

#4: Don't Leave Devices Unattended

You should instruct your employees never to leave their electronic devices unattended.

The first reason for that is that someone could access sensitive data you and your employees store on laptops and other equipment.

Secondly, hackers could infect your equipment and network with viruses. 

That could give them access to personal details on yourself, your clients, and your business partners. What's more, viruses could also temporarily or permanently disable your equipment.

Lastly, someone might steal your equipment if you leave it unattended. 

But you don't have to watch your devices all the time. Just make sure that you lock them or shut them down whenever you're not using them.

#5: Protect Your Physical Assets

There are many ways to protect your physical assets. 

One of the most reliable methods is engraving identification numbers on all your equipment and keeping an up-to-date list of your assets.

That way, you'll be able to tell the authorities what went missing in case of burglary.

Another thing you might want to consider is bolting down at least your most essential assets. Other, smaller valuables could be kept in a safe.

Let's not forget that maintaining network security is equally crucial for protecting your online devices, such as laptops, tablets, and even printers.

I suggest you enable port restrictions and detection of rogue devices to keep your online devices safe. 

#6: Keep Sensitive Data Under A Lock

If you keep physical documents with sensitive data in your office, make sure you store them in locked filing cabinets. 

That way, you'll make it more challenging for potential intruders to get to that data even if they enter your office.

Also, consider restricting access to the filing cabinets to minimize the security risk you have to handle.

As a side note, keeping sensitive data under a lock is a must if you're working with European businesses.

The GDPR obliges you to keep documents that contain personal information under a lock. 

What's more, it requires that you limit access to such records. 

You should grant access to only those employees that need personal information to perform their jobs.

For maximum physical security, install a smart lock on your filing cabinets. Alternatively, install it on your office doors.

#7: Secure The Outside Of Your Business Premises

You don't have to wait until the intruders are inside your office building to deter them. In fact, protecting the outside of your building is the first step towards first-rate physical security.

Just think about it: if you've adequately protected the outside of your facility, intruders can't get inside your office building. And if they can't get in, you don't even have to worry about things like access control.

Of course, we don't live in an ideal world. You can't be 100% sure that your facility is safe just because you've protected it from the outside. 

So, you'll still have to implement other security measures. But you will have drastically reduced your security risks.

Here are a couple of ideas on how you could secure the outside of your facility:

• Light up your property: Lighting can deter burglars and other intruders.
• Hire security personnel: Security guards can monitor specific access points or patrol around your entire property.
• Install physical barriers: High walls or fences might be old-fashioned, but they're still one of the best physical security measures you can take.

Of course, there are other things you can do, like install cameras around your property. Consider which type of security system will work best for you.

#8: Revoke Ex-Employees' Security Privileges

When your employees leave, you should immediately revoke all their security privileges. Yes, even if you've departed on good terms.

That might mean having them return their ID cards or removing their fingerprints from your smart locks' memory.

If you have security guards on-site, make sure you notify them of all leaving employees.

#9: Back Up Your Data

Backing up all your data is an integral part of your physical security strategy. 

By doing so, you'll ensure that you still have all your data in case of theft or natural disasters, such as fire or flood.

You can store your data on a cloud, USBs, or external hard drives.

#10: Organize Workplace Safety Trainings

You can't have an efficient physical security system if your employees are unaware of security threats. 

That's why you should educate them on the importance of physical security, as well as how to respond to physical security threats.

But you may feel that you can't correctly educate your employees on physical security since you're not an expert in the field.

In that case, you could invite security professionals to educate your employees for you.

Besides discussing threats like burglary, they should also mention the risk of natural disasters. Your employees need to know how to recognize and respond to all types of security threats.

FAQ

What is the importance of physical security?

Physical security is important because it keeps your properties, staff, and assets safe from real-world threats such as theft, vandalism, burglary, fire, flood, earthquakes, and so on.

What are the primary threats to physical security?

The primary threats to physical security are:

• natural events (e.g., fire, flood, earthquakes)
• intentional human acts (e.g., theft, burglary, vandalism, arson)
• unintentional human errors (e.g., spilled drinks, bad plumbing)

Implement Proper Security Measures For Your Business

You can use this physical security guide as a checklist. It will help you buy proper equipment and cover all four layers of physical security.

In doing so, you'll protect your business from intruders and all malicious activity.

However, you might not have the budget to buy many high-end devices. 

In that case, you can buy multi-functional devices that can fulfil your multiple needs at once, such as smart locks.