Physical Security Assessment & Consultation Flashcards

When conducting a physical security assessment, which methodology involves evaluating threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences together?

Answer: Risk-based assessment

A risk-based assessment combines threat likelihood, vulnerability exposure, and consequence severity to prioritize security recommendations.

What is the primary purpose of a delay barrier in a layered physical security strategy?

Answer: Slow an attacker to allow response time

Delay barriers buy time so that security personnel or law enforcement can respond before an attacker completes their objective.

Which term describes the concept of designing building layouts and landscaping to reduce crime opportunities without obvious security hardware?

Answer: CPTED

CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) uses natural surveillance, access control, and territorial reinforcement built into the environment.

During a security survey, a locksmith finds a hollow-core door protecting a server room. The most appropriate recommendation is to:

Answer: Replace it with a solid-core or hollow-metal door

Hollow-core doors provide minimal forced-entry resistance; upgrading to solid-core wood or hollow-metal doors is the correct remediation for high-security areas.

What does the term 'vulnerability' mean in the context of a physical security assessment?

Answer: A weakness that could be exploited by a threat

A vulnerability is a weakness in physical, procedural, or technical security that a threat could exploit to cause harm.

When assessing door frame security, which condition represents the greatest risk for a kick-in attack?

Answer: Strike plate secured with 3/4-inch screws into only the door jamb

Short screws anchored only in the jamb material (not reaching the stud) allow the frame to split easily under a kick-in force.

A client requests a security assessment for a retail store. Which area should a locksmith prioritize as the highest risk entry point?

Answer: Rear delivery door with no camera coverage and a padlocked hasp

Rear delivery doors with minimal hardware, no surveillance, and low foot traffic represent the highest burglary risk due to combined vulnerabilities.