In this guide to physical threats and physical protections of data, we are describing physical threats can lead to One of the most common physical threats to cyber security is also one of the most overlooked and underestimated. Electrical power surges – which can occur at any time without warning – can effectively destroy electronic devices like computers in a split second. This is why the use of power surge protectors and uninterruptible power supplies is considered mandatory by cyber security experts. The more important the computer or IT system, the greater the measures that should be taken to protect them. The physical security of computers and network systems often begins and ends with the security of the facility itself. If the office or business location is not sufficiently protected from unauthorized entry, the risk of theft or damage to its property is elevated. The more difficult you make it for would-be criminals to gain access to your computers and related technology, the lower the likelihood of falling victim to attack or cyber crime.

The physical security of the facility itself can also play a role in minimizing the threat posed by fire, flood and similar unpredictable eventualities. It’s therefore worth taking a step back from time to time to consider the extent to which your computer systems and related technology are protected. Is your building secured with impenetrable locks? Do you have a high-quality alarm and/or surveillance system in place? Have you set up a system to receive automatic alerts in the case of unauthorized entry? Exactly how much damage could a disgruntled employee cause, if they successfully gained unauthorized entry to your building? All such questions form part of the essential cyber security risk assessment, which should be performed on a regular basis.

One of the biggest problems with physical data storage devices is the fact that most of them can be easily damaged or destroyed. Hard drives, DVDs, USB sticks and so on – all relatively simple to compromise. Both accidentally and maliciously, these and other physical storage devices/mediums come to harm on a daily basis. This is why it is of the utmost importance to ensure all important data is backed up on a regular basis. Data storage devices in general should be viewed as fragile and imperfect. It should be assumed that at any time and without warning, any given device could be laid to waste. In which case, you’ll be glad you made a backup you can now use in its place.

Ideally, the data you back up should be kept in a separate location, away from the original storage device. The reason being that in the case of fire, flood, theft or accidental damage, you won’t run the risk of both copies being damaged or destroyed at the same time. Backing up data using online storage facilities is an option, but again cannot be counted on as flawless. It’s important to remember that anything that exists in the virtual space of the web has the potential to be compromised at any time. Even if the likelihood is minimal, it still exists. Where data is important and you simply cannot risk losing it entirely, physical backups should be made on a regular basis and stored in a safe location.