In the context of research security, physical security involves measures to safeguard and protect physical assets, such as:

• buildings
• laboratories
• equipment
• samples
• IT hardware and networks
• confidential documents

You should protect these physical assets against theft, espionage, sabotage or unauthorised access as effectively as possible. To do this, you can implement a combination of technical, organisational and personnel measures, such as:

• fencing and locking systems
• controlled access management
• a “clean desk” policy
• lockable cabinets
• security gates or staffed entry points

To prioritise security measures, it is best to establish designated protection zones: security areas tiered from open to high-security areas, each with clearly defined rules, to protect sensitive areas with a particularly high risk accordingly.
Physical security also includes measures to reduce risks, for example awareness training for researchers about potential threats during business travel such as data theft or intelligence activities by foreign actors.

We have gathered best practices to help you secure your research environment. Explore our guidelines now!