What is the purpose of physical security?

• A. Protect personnel, equipment, installations, material, documents.
• B. Ensure optimal traffic flow
• C. Manage facility catering
• D. Schedule leave

Answer: (A)

Physical security is about protecting people and assets from threats by preventing unauthorized access and enabling a swift response to incidents. Its purpose is to safeguard personnel, equipment, installations, material, and documents through layered measures such as barriers (fencing, walls), controlled entry (locks, badge readers, biometrics), surveillance (cameras), detection (alarms), and trained responders. These protections reduce the risk of theft, sabotage, espionage, vandalism, or harm and help ensure mission safety and continuity. The other tasks—managing traffic flow, catering, or scheduling leave—are administrative or logistical functions and do not address safeguarding people or physical resources.