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PES-10: 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.

Renumbered: Formerly PES-04 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, PES-10 was Delivery & Removal. That control is now PES-15.

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 (18)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA Privacy Management Framework (PMF) S7.2-POF5
COBIT 2019 DSS05.05
CSA CCM 4.1.0 DCS-04 DCS-10
ISO 27002 2022 5.15 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.7
ISO 27017 2015 9.1.1 11.1.1 11.1.3 11.1.4 11.2.9
ISO 27018 2025 5.15 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.7
MPA Content Security Program 5.3.1 PS-1.0 PS-1.1 TS-1.0
NIST SP 800-66 R2 164.310(b) 164.310(c)
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
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.08.01[01] A.03.08.01[02] A.03.08.02 A.03.10.07.a.01 A.03.10.07.a.02 A.03.10.07.d
NIST Privacy Framework 1.0 PR.AC-P2
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
SCF DPMP 2026 7.3
SWIFT CSF 2025 3.1
TISAX ISA 6.0.3 5.3.4 8.1.5 8.1.8
US (8)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CERT RMM 1.2 TM:SG4.SP1
USA Federal CMMC 2.0 Level 1 PE.L1-B.1.VIII
USA Federal CMMC 2.0 Level 2 PEL2.-3.10.5
USA Federal FAR 52.204-21 52.204-21(b)(1)(viii)
USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 2.B.3 2.B.3.3
USA Federal HIPAA Security Rule NIST SP 800-66 R2 § 164.310(b) § 164.310(c)
USA Federal HIPAA Administrative Simplification 2013 § 164.310(b) § 164.310(c)
USA California CCPA 2025 7123(c)(3)(D)
EMEA (7)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 PS-03.01B PS-03.03B PS-03.04B PS-04.02B PS-08.01B
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 op.acc.2 mp.if.1 mp.if.3 mp.if.5 mp.if.6 mp.eq.1 mp.eq.2
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 18.2(b)
EMEA EU NIS2 Annex 2024 13.3.2(c)
EMEA Saudi Arabia ECC-1 2018 2-14-3-5
EMEA Saudi Arabia OTCC-1 2022 2-13-1-4
EMEA Saudi Arabia SAMA CSF 1.0 2017 3.3.2.3.c
APAC (5)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Japan ISMAP 11.1.2.6 11.1.3 11.1.3.1 11.1.3.2 11.1.3.3 11.1.3.4 11.2.9 11.2.9.1 11.2.9.2 11.2.9.3 11.2.9.4 11.2.9.5 11.2.9.6
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 10.26
APAC New Zealand HISF MLHSP 2023 HHSP48 HML48
APAC New Zealand HISF Suppliers 2023 HSUP40
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 8.2.6.C.01 8.2.6.C.02
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 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

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with PES domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Physical security-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ Physical security controls are primarily administrative in nature (e.g., policies & standards), focusing on protecting High Value Assets (HVAs). ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel implement appropriate physical security practices to protect the confidentiality, integrity, availability and safety of the organization's technology assets and data.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with PES domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with PES domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with PES domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Physical security / facilities management-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Physical security / facilities management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Physical security controls and technologies primarily focus on protecting High Value Assets (HVAs), including environments where sensitive/regulated data is stored, transmitted and processed. ▪ Physical security controls 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.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with PES domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with PES domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A facilities management team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain NET domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of physical and environmental security operations (e.g., facility management solution, visitor log management automation and proximity badge access). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with PES domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists 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 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ 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. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. PES-10_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.

Evidence Requirements

E-PES-11 Physical Security Zones

Documented evidence of security safeguards controlling access to designated physical security zones within facilities.

Physical Security

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

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