There is a psychological comfort that comes with knowing your keys are physically safe and sound in your pocket. Your keys protect what you value: Your documents, your home sound system or electronics, furniture, and collections that you curated and saved up so hard to get. You surely could not afford to lose all of that! Where would you even start if you did? 

Insider Threat Perspective 

Physical security at the workplace is a big part of cybersecurity, so much so that robust cyber-physical systems by 2025 is a major prediction by Gartner. It’s an extra layer of protection that can be employed and engrained in company culture. Ensuring your assets are safe, passwords secure, and creating an overall environment where you can protect your data is like the house keys you make sure are safe and sound in your pocket.  

When it comes to physical security at a workstation regarding the team or business premises itself, we get into Insider Threat Perspective. Here, you get to look at any point where data can be obtained and take steps to ensure only authorized personnel access them. Physical security should be just as crucial as access management systems.  

Even the most robust security software measure can be compromised if appropriate physical security measures to protect your business aren’t in play. For example, you can have a pass phrased password with a potent mix of characters, but it all goes down the drain if you write it on a sticky note or notepad for others to access! 

It is essential to note that not all actors are malicious threats. Most people won’t wake up and set out to aid in a security breach; most are accidental insider threats. 

Physical Security Awareness in the Workplace:

1. There are no sticky notes with credentials to any service or point of entry to any device. A strong password is no good if everyone has access to it. 
2. Make sure all sensitive and critical data is backed-up. 
3. Shred all documentation that is no longer in use to ensure they don’t get into the wrong hands. 
4. When leaving your workstation for the day, make sure all proprietary hardware and documentation are locked away. Treat all work devices as sensitive to be safe. 
5. When you’re leaving for a short break, make sure you lock your work computer screen or smartphone. 
6. Beware of shoulder surfing, especially when dealing with personal work at your station. 
7. Report broken doors, windows, and locks to relevant personnel. 
8. Don’t leave doors ajar. Yes, a smoking break or a quick call may take a few minutes, but those are more than a perpetrator requires to gain unauthorized access to the premises. 
9. You can also note to report any suspicious activity or packages to relevant personnel. It could make all the difference in preventing a breach. 
10.  If you have a badge you use to enter your workplace, use it for yourself exclusively, and it would be best not to allow people to tail-gate off it.
11.  Finally, follow your company’s data policies and staff training, especially with identity and access management.

These measures will ensure that accidental and malicious threats are at bay as members of a workforce. It’s not all about the human factors. There are others to consider to be monitored to create a buffer and help prepare for recovery easier. These factors may include: 

• Natural disasters: It’s essential to have an awareness of the power of Mother Nature and ensure that necessary preparations are made just in case. 
• Physical location: Maintenance of the business’s physical site by ensuring your facility is as safe and conducive for your hardware as you make it. 

Physical security in the workplace is the unsung differentiator that could make all the difference when it comes to protecting your corporate ‘keys’ and keeping them in your cybersecurity pocket. 

A robust cybersecurity strategy should take these factors and create necessary measures if any of them happens. Contact us today, and we will help you with that!