physical risk

physical risk
physical risk – bollards used for physical security

The physical risk to an information system is perhaps the most important to consider.  You MUST limit physical access to a system or any technical or administrative controls you implement are meaningless because they can be bypassed easily.  With direct physical access ANYONE can boot a server into a Kali Linux Live CD/USB or do a Password Recovery on your Cisco Router PWNAGE!!!!  If you can physically touch a system, then you can own it.

Additionally, you should have a contingency plan for the most likely avenue of physical disaster to a system.  This limits the potential of intentional and unintentional harm to the system.

To limit the physical risk to an information system the NIST SP 800-53/DIARMF prescribes “Physical and Environmental Protection” Controls:

  • PE-1 Physical and Environmental Protection Policy and Procedures
  • PE-2 Physical Access Authorizations
  • PE-3 Physical Access Control
  • PE-4 Access Control for Transmission Medium
  • PE-5 Access Control for Output Devices
  • PE-6 Monitoring Physical Access
  • PE-7 Visitor Control
  • PE-8 Access Records
  • PE-9 Power Equipment and Power Cabling
  • PE-10 Emergency Shutoff
  • PE-11 Emergency Power
  • PE-12 Emergency Lighting
  • PE-13 Fire Protection
  • PE-14 Temperature and Humidity Controls
  • PE-15 Water Damage Protection
  • PE-16 Delivery and Removal
  • PE-17 Alternate Work Site
  • PE-18 Location of Information System Components
  • PE-19 Information Leakage

 

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