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NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 · PE-3

Physical Access Control

US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · cited in 19 of our lessons

Explanation

What it asks for. Physical access authorisations must be enforced at defined entry and exit points, by verifying individual authorisations and controlling ingress and egress, with access logs, visitor controls, protection of keys and access devices, and periodic inventories and changes of combinations and keys.

In practice. Doing this well means badge access to buildings and secure areas, stricter controls such as two-factor entry for data centres, visitor sign-in and escort, and review of access logs. Auditors expect access control system reports, visitor logs and evidence that access lists and keys are reviewed. ISO/IEC 27001 physical security controls cover similar ground.

Common gaps. Tailgating, propped doors and badges that remain active after people leave are frequent issues. Small comms rooms and branch offices are often far less protected than the main data centre.

Open SP 800-53 at NIST
The official text
a. Enforce physical access authorizations at [Assignment: organization-defined entry and exit points] by: 1. Verifying individual access authorizations before granting access to the facility; and 2. Controlling ingress and egress to the facility using [Selection: {{ insert: param, pe-03_odp.03 }} ; guards]; b. Maintain physical access audit logs for [Assignment: organization-defined entry or exit points]; c. Control access to areas within the facility designated as publicly accessible by implementing the following controls: [Assignment: organization-defined physical access controls]; d. Escort visitors and control visitor activity [Assignment: organization-defined circumstances]; e. Secure keys, combinations, and other physical access devices; f. Inventory [Assignment: organization-defined physical access devices] every [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] ; and g. Change combinations and keys [Assignment: organization-defined organization-defined frequency] and/or when keys are lost, combinations are compromised, or when individuals possessing the keys or combinations are transferred or terminated. Discussion: Physical access control applies to employees and visitors. Individuals with permanent physical access authorizations are not considered visitors. Physical access controls for publicly accessible areas may include physical access control logs/records, guards, or physical access devices and barriers to prevent movement from publicly accessible areas to non-public areas. Organizations determine the types of guards needed, including professional security staff, system users, or administrative staff. Physical access devices include keys, locks, combinations, biometric readers, and card readers. Physical access control systems comply with applicable laws, executive orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidelines. Organizations have flexibility in the types of audit logs employed. Audit logs can be procedural, automated, or some combination thereof. Physical access points can include facility access points, interior access points to systems that require supplemental access controls, or both. Components of systems may be in areas designated as publicly accessible with organizations controlling access to the components.

From NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, a work of the US government in the public domain.

Lessons that cite it

Real incidents where this item mattered: the latest 12 of 19.