Determining Physical Threats: Impact on Security Countermeasures

This essay discusses the critical role of physical security in organizations and how the identification of potential physical threats significantly influences the selection of security countermeasures. It highlights common countermeasures like security guards, locks, alarms, and barriers, emphasizing that the choice of these measures is determined by risk assessments. The essay explains that understanding potential threats, such as unauthorized access, necessitates strategies like barriers, security personnel, and surveillance. It also addresses the economic considerations involved in implementing security measures, suggesting alternative strategies like employee training when resources are limited. The essay concludes that a thorough risk assessment is essential for making informed decisions about physical security countermeasures, ensuring that organizations can effectively protect their information systems and premises.

Running head: PHYSICAL SECURITY THREATS AND CHOICE OF
COUNTERMEASURES
Physical Security Threats and Choice of Countermeasures
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

PHYSICAL SECURITY THREATS AND CHOICE OF COUNTERMEASURES 2
PHYSICAL SECURITY THREATS AND CHOICE OF
COUNTERMEASURES
Physical security is a very important aspect of a company or organization. In the
contemporary society, it has become particularly important to ensure that information
systems are secured from as many as possible threats (Fennelly, 2016). It goes without saying
that there is no single method that has been established to ensure that security is maximized.
On the contrary, every organization employs a set of customized ways of ensuring that
security is maximized and that the information systems are as safe as possible. This
assignment will discuss how determining possible physical threats may affect the choice of
security countermeasures while planning new or upgraded security systems.
There are a great set of physical security countermeasures that exist. However, the
most common ones are security guards, locks, alarms and bars. As indicated by the National
Centre for Education Statistics, the mention of the word security, these are the
countermeasures that ring in the minds of most people. Determining the physical threats will
inevitably affect the choice of physical security measures that will be adopted (Schoultz,
2014). For instance, in a situation where outsiders are likely to threaten the security of an
organization, then as a good countermeasure strategy, the organization should find ways of
ensuring that unauthorized outsiders do not get access to its premises. This could be through
measures as having several barriers before reaching the premises or having security guards
and security cameras monitoring what is happening within the environs.
The determination of the possible security threats is usually done by carrying out a
risk assessment (Sandberg, Amin and Johansson, 2015). In a situation where the risk
assessment reveals that the nature of the building is poses a threat to security, then necessary
changes must be done. These could be demolishing the structures and developing new ones

PHYSICAL SECURITY THREATS AND CHOICE OF COUNTERMEASURES 3
or even making the employees aware of the security threats so that they can take more
precautionary measures. While determining the possible security threats, it may also be noted
that the changes that need to be made to improve security would need huge amounts of
financing. In situations where that is economically viable, then it can be carried out. Where it
is not economically viable, then other strategies of ensuring security must be developed. Such
strategies could include training the employees on measures of ensuring security while they
work. this way, they have double roles one being provision of security. As it can be seen from
the discussion above, the determination of possible security threats (mainly done via risk
assessment) inevitably affects the choice of physical security countermeasures to be adopted.
In conclusion, physical security is an important and core component of any
organization. The process of determining possible physical threats greatly affects the choice
of physical security countermeasures that will be adopted. For instance, if outsiders pose a
threat then several barriers could be put in place to minimize the chances of any outsider. In
situations where resources are limiting, creative strategies must be developed to ensure that
physical security is not compromised. In a nutshell, the findings of a risk assessment
inevitably influence the choice of physical security countermeasures.

PHYSICAL SECURITY THREATS AND CHOICE OF COUNTERMEASURES 4
References
Fennelly, L. (2016). Effective physical security. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Sandberg, H., Amin, S., & Johansson, K. H. (2015). Cyberphysical security in networked
control systems: An introduction to the issue. IEEE Control Systems, 35(1), 20-23.
Schoultz, L. (2014). National Security and United States Policy toward Latin America.
Princeton University Press.
US Department of Education, N. C. F. E. S. (2011). Digest of education statistics. National
Center for Education Statistics.