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PES-16.1: Transmission Medium Security

PES 9 — Critical Protect

Physical security mechanisms exist to protect power and telecommunications cabling carrying data or supporting information services from interception, interference or damage.

Renumbered: Formerly PES-12.1 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization protect power and telecommunications cabling carrying data or supporting information services from interception, interference or damage?

General (26)
US (10)
EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 PS-06.01B.4 PS-06.03B PS-06.03B.1 PS-06.03B.2 PS-06.03B.3 PS-06.03B.4 PS-06.03B.5
APAC (3)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-0181 ISM-0187 ISM-0194 ISM-0195 ISM-0198 ISM-0201 ISM-0206 ISM-0208 ISM-0211 ISM-0213 ISM-0216 ISM-0217 ISM-0218 ISM-0926 ISM-1095 ISM-1096 ISM-1098 ISM-1100 ISM-1101 ISM-1102 ISM-1103 ISM-1105 ISM-1107 ISM-1109 ISM-1111 ISM-1112 ISM-1114 ISM-1115 ISM-1116 ISM-1119 ISM-1122 ISM-1130 ISM-1133 ISM-1164 ISM-1216 ISM-1639 ISM-1640 ISM-1718 ISM-1719 ISM-1720 ISM-1721 ISM-1820 ISM-1821 ISM-1822
APAC Japan ISMAP 11.2.3 11.2.3.1 11.2.3.2 11.2.3.3
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 8.3.3.C.01 8.3.3.C.02 8.3.4.C.01 8.3.4.C.02 8.3.5.C.01 10.1.42.C.01 10.1.42.C.02 10.1.43.C.01 10.1.43.C.02 10.1.43.C.03 10.1.43.C.04 10.1.44.C.01 10.1.45.C.01 10.1.45.C.02 10.1.46.C.01 10.1.46.C.02 10.1.46.C.03 10.1.46.C.04 10.1.47.C.01 10.1.47.C.02 10.1.48.C.01 10.1.48.C.02 10.1.48.C.03 10.1.49.C.01 10.1.50.C.01 10.1.50.C.02 10.1.50.C.03 10.1.50.C.04 10.1.51.C.01 10.2.6.C.01 10.2.6.C.02 10.2.7.C.01 10.2.8.C.01 10.2.9.C.01 10.2.10.C.01 10.3.5.C.01 10.3.6.C.01 10.3.6.C.02 10.3.7.C.01 10.3.8.C.01 10.3.9.C.01 10.3.10.C.01 10.3.11.C.01 10.3.12.C.01 10.3.13.C.01 10.4.4.C.01 10.4.4.C.02 10.4.5.C.01 10.4.5.C.02 10.4.6.C.01 10.4.6.C.02 10.4.6.C.03 10.4.7.C.01 10.4.7.C.02 10.4.8.C.01 10.4.9.C.01 10.4.9.C.02 10.4.9.C.03 10.4.9.C.04 10.4.10.C.01 10.4.11.C.01 10.4.12.C.01 10.4.13.C.01 10.4.13.C.02 10.5.4.C.01 10.5.5.C.01 10.5.6.C.01 10.5.6.C.02 10.5.7.C.01 10.5.8.C.01 10.5.8.C.02 10.5.9.C.01 10.5.9.C.02 10.5.10.C.01 10.5.10.C.02 10.5.11.C.01 10.6.22.C.01 10.6.22.C.02 10.6.23.C.01 10.6.23.C.02 10.6.23.C.03 10.6.23.C.04 10.6.24.C.01 10.6.24.C.02 10.6.25.C.01 10.6.26.C.01 10.6.27.C.01 10.6.28.C.01 10.6.28.C.02 10.6.29.C.01 10.6.30.C.01 10.6.31.C.01
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.10.08

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

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

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 address system component location within the facility to minimize potential damage from physical and environmental hazards and to minimize the opportunity for unauthorized access. ▪ Physical security controls isolate information processing facilities from points such as delivery and loading areas and other points to avoid unauthorized access.

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 physical security capability exists to protect power and telecommunications cabling carrying data or supporting information services from interception, interference or damage.

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-16.1_A01 system distribution and transmission lines requiring physical access controls are defined.
  2. PES-16.1_A02 security controls to be implemented to control physical access to system distribution and transmission lines within the organizational facility are defined.
  3. PES-16.1_A03 physical access to system distribution and transmission lines within organizational facilities is controlled.
  4. PES-16.1_A04 managed interfaces to be protected against unauthorized physical connections are defined.
  5. PES-16.1_A05 managed interfaces are protected against unauthorized physical connections.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Network cabling kept within secured office space
  • Wireless secured with WPA3/WPA2-Enterprise

Small

  • Cabling routed through secured spaces or conduit
  • Patch panels in locked closets

Medium

  • Structured cabling in locked telecom rooms and conduit
  • Periodic inspection of cable pathways

Large

  • Protected cable pathways (conduit, locked trays) for data and power
  • Fiber where interception risk is elevated
  • Cable plant documentation and inspection

Enterprise

  • Enterprise cable plant security standards (armored conduit, locked pathways, protected distribution systems where required)
  • Cable infrastructure inspections and documentation (e.g., DCIM)

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