Skip to main content

PES-04: Physical Security of Offices, Rooms & Facilities

PES 10 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to identify systems, equipment and respective operating environments that require limited physical access so that appropriate physical access controls are designed and implemented for offices, rooms and facilities.

Control Question: Does the organization identify systems, equipment and respective operating environments that require limited physical access so that appropriate physical access controls are designed and implemented for offices, rooms and facilities?

General (14)
Framework Mapping Values
ISO 27002 2022 5.15 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.7
ISO 27017 2015 11.1.1 11.1.3 11.2.9
MPA Content Security Program 5.1 OP-3.2 PS-1.0 PS-1.2
NIST Privacy Framework 1.0 PR.AC-P2
NIST 800-171 R2 (source) 3.10.5
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.08.01 03.08.02 03.10.07.a.01 03.10.07.a.02 03.10.07.d
PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) 9.3.1.1
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) 9.3.1.1
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) 9.3.1.1
SWIFT CSF 2023 3.1
TISAX ISA 6 5.3.4 8.1.5 8.1.8
SCF CORE Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures (MA&D) PES-04
SCF CORE ESP Level 2 Critical Infrastructure PES-04
SCF CORE ESP Level 3 Advanced Threats PES-04
US (13)
Framework Mapping Values
US CJIS Security Policy 5.9.3 (source) 5.9.1.5 5.9.2
US CMMC 2.0 Level 1 (source) PE.L1-B.1.VIII
US CMMC 2.0 Level 2 (source) PE.L2-3.10.5
US CMMC 2.0 Level 3 (source) PE.L2-3.10.5
US FAR 52.204-21 52.204-21(b)(1)(viii)
US HIPAA Administrative Simplification 2013 (source) 164.310(b) 164.310(c)
US HIPAA Security Rule / NIST SP 800-66 R2 (source) 164.310(b) 164.310(c)
US HIPAA HICP Medium Practice 5.M.C 6.M.E
US HIPAA HICP Large Practice 5.M.C 6.M.E
US IRS 1075 2.B.3.3 2.B.5
US NNPI (unclass) 11.1 11.2 11.3
US - CA CCPA 2025 7123(c)(3)(D)
US - VT Act 171 of 2018 2447(b)(7)
EMEA (6)
APAC (5)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Japan ISMAP 11.1.1 11.1.3 11.2.9
APAC New Zealand HISF 2022 HHSP48 HML48 HSUP40
APAC New Zealand HISF Suppliers 2023 HSUP40
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.6 8.2.6.C.01 8.2.6.C.02
APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 8.5.6(e)
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 03.08.01 03.08.02 03.10.07.A.01 03.10.07.A.02 03.10.07.D

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

There is no evidence of a capability to identify systems, equipment and respective operating environments that require limited physical access so that appropriate physical access controls are designed and implemented for offices, rooms and facilities.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) efforts are ad hoc and inconsistent. CMM Level 1 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • Physical access control is decentralized.
  • Physical security controls are primarily administrative in nature (e.g., policies & standards), focusing on protecting High Value Assets (HVAs).
  • Human Resources, or a similar function, maintains a current list of personnel and facilitates the implementation of physical access management controls.
  • Facility security mechanisms exist to monitor physical access to business-critical information systems or sensitive/regulated data, in addition to the physical access monitoring of the facility.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) efforts are requirements-driven and governed at a local/regional level, but are not consistent across the organization. CMM Level 2 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • Physical access control is decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices.
  • IT/cybersecurity personnel identify cybersecurity and data protection controls that are appropriate to address applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements for physical access control.
  • Human Resources, or a similar function, maintains a current list of personnel with authorized access to organizational facilities and facilitates the implementation of physical access management controls.
  • Physical security controls are primarily administrative in nature (e.g., policies & standards).
  • Physical controls, administrative processes and technologies are primarily designed and implemented for offices, rooms and facilities that focus on protecting High Value Assets (HVAs), including environments where sensitive/regulated data is stored, transmitted and processed.
  • A facilities maintenance team, or similar function, manages the operation of automated physical and environmental protection controls.
  • Physical controls are designed and implemented for offices, rooms and facilities.
Level 3 — Well Defined

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) efforts are standardized across the organization and centrally managed, where technically feasible, to ensure consistency. CMM Level 3 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist: o Performs the centralized-management of physical security controls across the enterprise. o Maintains a current list of personnel with authorized access to organizational facilities and implements physical access management controls.

  • A physical security team, or similar function:
  • A facilities maintenance team, or similar function, manages the operation of environmental protection controls.
  • Administrative processes exist to authorize physical access to facilities based on the position or role of the individual.
  • Administrative processes and physical controls restrict unescorted access to facilities to personnel with required security clearances, formal access authorizations and validated the need for access.
  • Physical controls are designed and implemented for offices, rooms and facilities.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) efforts are metrics driven and provide sufficient management insight (based on a quantitative understanding of process capabilities) to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and identify areas for improvement. In addition to CMM Level 3 criteria, CMM Level 4 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
  • Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs).
  • Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties.
  • Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review).
  • Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes.
  • Both business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving

See C|P-CMM4. There are no defined C|P-CMM5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to identify systems, equipment and respective operating environments that require limited physical access so that appropriate physical access controls are designed and implemented for offices, rooms and facilities.

Assessment Objectives

  1. PES-04_A01 identify systems, equipment and respective operating environments that require limited physical access so that appropriate physical access controls are designed and implemented for offices, rooms and facilities.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • "clean desk" requirements
  • Personnel manager spot checks

Small

  • "clean desk" requirements
  • Personnel manager spot checks

Medium

  • "clean desk" requirements
  • Personnel manager spot checks

Large

  • "clean desk" requirements
  • Personnel manager spot checks

Enterprise

  • "clean desk" requirements
  • Personnel manager spot checks

The Secure Controls Framework (SCF) is maintained by SCF Council. Use of SCF content is subject to the SCF Terms & Conditions.

Manage this control in SCF Connect

Track implementation status, collect evidence, and map controls to your compliance frameworks automatically.