Protect Yourself

Many people go to great lengths to secure their network from the outside so that intruders cannot get in. However, if they do get in they are detected, hopefully, and dealt with as quickly as possible. Often times the same people that are such zealots about maintaining firewalls and software updates are incredibly lax about ensuring that the servers themselves are safe from direct attacks by people physically at the machine. Most often, this is because there are little or no physical security measures in place past simple perimeter defenses- locks and bolts for instance. Designing a facility from the ground up with security in mind is an expensive proposition, but not terribly difficult. The ideas and practices for this can be carried over to preexisting structures and institutions fairly easily if done on a scaled down level. This paper is intended to demonstrate the design of a building with physical security in mind and how to apply the same theories to existing buildings.