Physical Security

Physical security in distributed enterprises, particularly LANs that are usually PC-based, is slightly different than for mainframe platforms. Computer physical security should be emphasised where a network has no centralised computer room & a network often extends beyond the local premises.

Components that need physical security include the hardware devices and the software and data that may be stored on the file servers, PCs, or removable media (tapes and disks) & is referred as data center physical security. With more secure IS environments, network physical security should prevent unauthorised personnel from accessing LAN devices or the transmission of data.

Physical security solutions includes power protection, physical locks, and secure work areas enforced by security guards and authentication technologies such as magnetic badge readers. Physical access to the network components (i.e. files, applications, communications, etc.) should be limited to those who require access to perform their jobs. Network workstations or PCs should be password protected and monitored for workstation activity. Network wiring requires some form of protection since it does not have to be physically penetrated for the data it carries to be revealed or contaminated.