Physical Security | Grey Team Foundation – Cybersecurity Assessments
C.V.I.P²-A Framework | Module P²

Physical Security

Your firewalls don't protect your front door. We assess your facility's access controls, surveillance systems, and physical safeguards to close the gaps that digital defenses can't address alone.

What Is a Physical Security Evaluation?

A Physical Security Evaluation is an on-site assessment of your facility's physical access controls, surveillance infrastructure, visitor management procedures, and environmental safeguards. Our team walks your building the same way a threat actor would, looking for the physical gaps that could allow someone to steal equipment, install rogue devices, access your network directly, or reach sensitive areas they should never be able to enter.

Most organizations invest heavily in firewalls, endpoint protection, and network monitoring, but overlook the physical layer entirely. A propped-open door, an unmonitored server room, or a visitor badge system that nobody enforces can bypass every digital control you've built. This module exists to make sure that doesn't happen.

35%
Of security incidents involve a physical component. Whether it's a stolen laptop with unencrypted data, a rogue USB device plugged into a workstation, or unauthorized access to a server closet, physical security failures create real cyber risk.
94%
Of organizations that experienced tailgating breaches had existing access control systems in place. The technology was there. The enforcement wasn't. Policies, procedures, and human behavior are just as important as the hardware on the door.

"The strongest encryption in the world doesn't matter if someone can walk into your server room unchallenged. Physical security is where digital security begins."

What We Evaluate

Our physical security specialists assess every layer of your facility's defenses, from the parking lot to the server room. Each area is evaluated against industry best practices and your organization's specific risk profile.

  • Building Access Points. We evaluate every entry and exit point including main entrances, side doors, loading docks, service entrances, emergency exits, and garage access. We test whether these can be bypassed through tailgating, social engineering, or simply because they're left unsecured.
  • Access Control Systems. Badge readers, RFID card systems, PIN keypads, biometric scanners, mantraps, and traditional lock-and-key setups are all assessed for effectiveness, proper configuration, and resistance to bypass techniques.
  • Surveillance and Monitoring. We review CCTV camera placement (interior and exterior), coverage gaps, recording retention, motion sensors, alarm systems, and whether 24/7 monitoring services are actually being utilized effectively.
  • Sensitive Area Protection. Server rooms, data centers, network closets (IDF/MDF), executive offices, HR and finance areas, and any location housing sensitive data or critical infrastructure receive focused evaluation for access restrictions and monitoring.
  • Visitor Management. We assess your visitor check-in process, badge issuance, escort policies, and whether visitors can access areas they shouldn't. This includes testing whether social engineering tactics could allow an unauthorized person to move freely through your facility.
  • Environmental Controls. We check for exposed network jacks in public areas, unsecured wireless access points, unattended workstations, visible sensitive information (screen content, printed documents), and any environmental conditions that could facilitate unauthorized access or data theft.

How the Assessment Works

The Physical Security Evaluation is conducted on-site by our physical security specialist, who brings over 20 years of government security experience to every engagement. The assessment combines structured walkthroughs with real-world testing of your facility's controls.

01

Pre-Assessment Planning

We review your facility layout, existing access control systems, surveillance infrastructure, and any known concerns before arriving on-site. This includes understanding your hours of operation, shift patterns, visitor volume, and which areas contain your most sensitive assets.

02

On-Site Walkthrough and Testing

Our specialist conducts a thorough physical walkthrough of your entire facility, testing access controls at every entry point, evaluating surveillance coverage, checking sensitive areas for proper restrictions, and observing employee behavior around security protocols. We document everything with photos and detailed notes.

03

Social Engineering and Bypass Testing

With your authorization, we test whether our team can gain unauthorized access through tailgating, pretexting (posing as a vendor, delivery person, or new employee), or exploiting gaps in visitor management procedures. This reveals how your physical controls hold up against real-world tactics.

04

Risk Assessment and Scoring

Each finding is categorized by severity and mapped to the potential business impact. An unlocked server room door in a facility that handles patient data is not the same risk level as an unlocked supply closet. We prioritize findings based on what matters most to your organization.

05

Reporting and Recommendations

You receive a detailed report with photographic evidence, risk ratings, and prioritized remediation recommendations. This includes both quick wins (policy changes, signage, procedure updates) and longer-term improvements (hardware upgrades, camera repositioning, access control system changes). An executive summary is included for leadership.

Why This Matters for Your Business

The Physical Security Evaluation is the P² module in the C.V.I.P²-A framework because physical access is often the most overlooked attack vector. You can have the best digital defenses in the industry, but if an attacker can walk into your building and plug a device into an open network port, none of that matters.

This is especially true for organizations with multiple locations, high foot traffic, or facilities that house both public-facing and restricted areas. Restaurants with back-office servers, medical clinics with patient records in accessible areas, retail stores with POS systems near customer zones, and manufacturing floors connected to corporate networks all present unique physical security challenges.

Compliance frameworks increasingly recognize the connection between physical and digital security. HIPAA requires physical safeguards for protected health information. PCI DSS v4.0 mandates physical access controls for cardholder data environments. NIST CSF 2.0 includes physical security as a core component of organizational protection.

Who Should Get This Assessment

Any organization where physical access to your facility could result in data theft, system compromise, or business disruption. This is particularly critical for:

  • Healthcare organizations. HIPAA requires physical safeguards for areas where protected health information is stored or accessed. Patient records on screens, unattended workstations in exam rooms, and server closets without badge access are all compliance violations and security risks.
  • Restaurants, retail, and hospitality. POS systems, back-office servers, and network equipment are often located in areas with minimal access controls. High employee turnover and public foot traffic make these environments especially vulnerable to physical compromise.
  • Banks, credit unions, and financial services. Regulatory requirements demand strict physical access controls for areas housing financial data and systems. Vault areas, teller stations, and data processing rooms all require documented physical security measures.
  • Law firms and professional services. Confidential client files, case strategy documents, and privileged communications stored in physical or digital form require controlled access. An after-hours cleaning crew with unrestricted access to partner offices is a risk most firms never consider.
  • Manufacturing and supply chain. Factory floors, warehouse operations, and shipping areas often have network connections and control systems that are physically accessible to a wide range of personnel and visitors. A single rogue device on an OT network can disrupt production entirely.

Secure the Physical Layer

Complete the form and a Grey Team Foundation security advisor will discuss evaluating your facility's physical defenses.

Request Physical Security Assessment →