page_title: Physical security
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Physical security / Overview
caption_attribution_description: Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C..
context_page_description: Physical security describes security measures that are designed to deny unauthorized access to facilities, equipment and resources and to protect personnel and property from damage or harm. Physical security involves the use of multiple layers of interdependent systems that can include CCTV surveillance, security guards, protective barriers, locks, access control, perimeter intrusion detection, deterrent systems, fire protection, and other systems designed to protect persons and property.
context_section_description: Physical security systems for protected facilities are generally intended to:
  deter potential intruders (e.g. warning signs, security lighting and perimeter markings);
  detect intrusions and monitor/record intruders (e.g. intruder alarms and CCTV systems); and
  trigger appropriate incident responses (e.g. by security guards and police).
  It is up to security designers, architects and analysts to balance security controls against risks, taking into account the costs of specifying, developing, testing, implementing, using, managing, monitoring and maintaining the controls, along with broader issues such as aesthetics, human rights, health and safety, and societal norms or conventions.  Physical access security measures that are appropriate for a high security prison or a military site may be inappropriate in an office, a home or a vehicle, although the principles are similar.
caption: Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. showing planters being used as vehicle barriers to increase the standoff distance, and barriers and gates along the vehicle entrance
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