Physical security planning guide
From assessment to upkeep.
How a good physical security project runs, and what to ask at each step: assess, design, install, maintain.
Physical security planning guide
A physical security system is more than cameras and door readers. It is a plan for protecting people, property, and information, supported by equipment you can maintain. This guide walks through the four stages of a well-run project and the questions to ask at each one.
Stage 1: Assess
Start with the risks, not the products. Walk the site, inside and out, and talk with the people who use it every day.
- Identify what you are protecting: people, cash, equipment, records, medications, inventory
- Walk every entrance, including side doors, loading areas, and windows
- Review past incidents, near misses, and concerns from staff
- Note lighting, blind spots, and who has keys or badges
- List legal, insurance, and safety requirements that apply to you
Stage 2: Design
Match the system to the risks you found. A good design explains what each piece is for.
- What problem does each camera, door, or sensor solve?
- How will it work during a power or network failure? Life-safety exits must always work.
- Who will use it every day? Simple systems get used.
- How will it connect to your network? Plan capacity, power, and security for each device.
- How will it grow? Leave room for more doors, cameras, or locations.
Stage 3: Install
Good installation is neat, labeled, and documented. Ask for the following before you sign off.
- A labeled diagram of cameras, doors, and devices
- Camera views checked in daytime and at night
- Doors tested for locking, unlocking, and emergency exit
- Accounts created for the right people, with strong sign-in
- Training for the people who will use and manage the system
- Passwords and documentation handed over to you
Stage 4: Maintain
Systems fail quietly when nobody looks after them.
- Test doors, alarms, and cameras on a schedule
- Apply updates to devices and software
- Review who has access every quarter and remove people who left
- Check storage and video retention
- Walk the site again each year and update the plan
Questions to ask any provider
- Who owns the equipment, the footage, and the documentation?
- What happens if we want to change providers?
- What are the ongoing costs after installation?
- Who supports the system, and how fast do they respond?
- How do you keep the devices secure on our network?
Want help putting this guide into practice?
Our team can walk through it with you and tailor the plan to your organization.