The best fix is no break-in
A school server room has a plain door and no lock. Anyone can walk in. A pupil unplugs a cable as a joke. The whole school loses its files and Wi-Fi for a day.
A control that stops a problem before it starts is the cheapest kind. Today you meet the physical ones.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Preventative control | A safeguard that stops a problem before it happens. |
| Physical control | A safeguard you can touch, such as a lock or a fence. |
| Anti-picking lock | A lock made to resist being opened without the key. |
| Bollard | A short, strong post that stops vehicles. |
| Managed entry | Controlling who comes in, with people or devices. |
| Biometric | A check based on your body, such as a fingerprint or face. |
| CCTV | Closed-circuit television: cameras that record an area. |
| PIN | A short secret number used to prove who you are. |
| Unauthorised access | Getting in without permission. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name the physical, managed entry, biometric, CCTV and PIN controls that prevent unauthorised access and tampering.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The purpose of preventative controls
A preventative control stops unauthorised access or tampering before it happens. It can also guard against events such as floods and fires.
It does not wait for harm. It makes harm hard or impossible.
Physical controls
Physical controls are things you can touch.
Specialist locks: an anti-picking lock resists being forced open without the key.
Barriers: fencing, bollards against vehicles, gates and cages around equipment.
Flood and fire defence: systems that stop or slow water and flames.
Managed entry
Managed entry controls who comes in.
A manned reception desk checks every visitor. Security guards patrol and challenge. Restricted doors open only for some people. Card readers open a door only for a valid card.
A card can be lost. So a high-security room may need a card and a PIN.
Check: physical and entry
Have a go
Check: physical and entry
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.