Physical security systems are the measures that protect a place and the people in it: cameras, access control, intrusion detection, perimeter barriers and the monitoring that ties them together. They work as layers, so a failure in one is caught by another.
Physical security is about the building rather than the network, though modern systems live on both. The layers should be chosen together.
Layers, not a single product
A fence delays, a lock restricts, a camera records, a sensor detects and a person responds. Each layer covers a different gap, which is why buying one capable product rarely fixes a weak site.
Integration is the payoff
When a door alarm clips the nearest camera and sends one alert, staff act faster. Integration also concentrates risk, so accounts, permissions and the shared network deserve the same attention as the hardware.
Related:Commercial security systemsGlossary: Access control system