PE-6 PE · Physical and Environmental Protection

Monitoring Physical Access

✓ LOW ✓ MODERATE ✓ HIGH
4 Enhancements 1 Overlay 8 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Physical access monitoring includes publicly accessible areas within organizational facilities. Examples of physical access monitoring include the employment of guards, video surveillance equipment (i.e., cameras), and sensor devices. Reviewing physical access logs can help identify suspicious activity, anomalous events, or potential threats. The reviews can be supported by audit logging controls, such as AU-2 , if the access logs are part of an automated system. Organizational incident response capabilities include investigations of physical security incidents and responses to the incidents. Incidents include security violations or suspicious physical access activities. Suspicious physical access activities include accesses outside of normal work hours, repeated accesses to areas not normally accessed, accesses for unusual lengths of time, and out-of-sequence accesses.

Enhancements NIST SOURCE

PE-6(1) Intrusion Alarms and Surveillance Equipment LOW ✓ MODERATE ✓ HIGH

Monitor physical access to the facility where the system resides using physical intrusion alarms and surveillance equipment.

Discussion

Physical intrusion alarms can be employed to alert security personnel when unauthorized access to the facility is attempted. Alarm systems work in conjunction with physical barriers, physical access control systems, and security guards by triggering a response when these other forms of security have been compromised or breached. Physical intrusion alarms can include different types of sensor devices, such as motion sensors, contact sensors, and broken glass sensors. Surveillance equipment includes video cameras installed at strategic locations throughout the facility.

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PE-6(2) Automated Intrusion Recognition and Responses LOW MODERATE HIGH

Recognize [classes or types of intrusions] and initiate [response actions] using [automated mechanisms].

Discussion

Response actions can include notifying selected organizational personnel or law enforcement personnel. Automated mechanisms implemented to initiate response actions include system alert notifications, email and text messages, and activating door locking mechanisms. Physical access monitoring can be coordinated with intrusion detection systems and system monitoring capabilities to provide integrated threat coverage for the organization.

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PE-6(3) Video Surveillance LOW MODERATE HIGH
  1. (a) Employ video surveillance of [operational areas];
  2. (b) Review video recordings [frequency] ; and
  3. (c) Retain video recordings for [time period].
Discussion

Video surveillance focuses on recording activity in specified areas for the purposes of subsequent review, if circumstances so warrant. Video recordings are typically reviewed to detect anomalous events or incidents. Monitoring the surveillance video is not required, although organizations may choose to do so. There may be legal considerations when performing and retaining video surveillance, especially if such surveillance is in a public location.

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PE-6(4) Monitoring Physical Access to Systems LOW MODERATE ✓ HIGH

Monitor physical access to the system in addition to the physical access monitoring of the facility at [physical spaces].

Discussion

Monitoring physical access to systems provides additional monitoring for those areas within facilities where there is a concentration of system components, including server rooms, media storage areas, and communications centers. Physical access monitoring can be coordinated with intrusion detection systems and system monitoring capabilities to provide comprehensive and integrated threat coverage for the organization.

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Implementation Guidance

Engineering Interpretation

Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.

No engineering interpretation has been authored for PE-6 yet. This section is architected to receive it — see the Requirements and Assessment sections above for the authoritative NIST source content in the meantime.

Assessment

NIST SP 800-53A REV 5.2.0

Assessment Objectives

  1. the frequency at which to review physical access logs is defined;
  2. events or potential indication of events requiring physical access logs to be reviewed are defined;
  3. physical access to the facility where the system resides is monitored to detect and respond to physical security incidents;
  4. physical access logs are reviewed <PE-06_ODP[01] frequency>;
  5. physical access logs are reviewed upon occurrence of <PE-06_ODP[02] events>;
  6. results of reviews are coordinated with organizational incident response capabilities;
  7. results of investigations are coordinated with organizational incident response capabilities.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Physical and environmental protection policy; procedures addressing physical access monitoring; physical access logs or records; physical access monitoring records; physical access log reviews; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with physical access monitoring responsibilities; organizational personnel with incident response responsibilities; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for monitoring physical access; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing physical access monitoring; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the review of physical access logs].

Overlays

OT/ICS Overlay SP 800-82r3

NIST SP 800-82r3 Appendix F, Table 22. Blank baseline means the control/control enhancement is not selected in that initial OT baseline.

LOW

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1)
  • Added: (4)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (4)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for PE-6. This section is architected to display, per product: STIG ID, Finding ID, Severity, Title, Description, Check, Fix, CCI, and NIST control mapping — but nothing is populated here until a real DISA STIG/CCI dataset is ingested.

Learn more about STIG/CCI integration →

Evidence

Potential Evidence — Derived

Categorized from the SP 800-53A "Examine"/"Test" artifact list above by keyword — not an authoritative NIST evidence list.

Policy

  • Physical and environmental protection policy
  • system security plan

Logging

  • physical access log reviews

Testing

  • Organizational processes for monitoring physical access
  • mechanisms supporting and/or implementing physical access monitoring
  • mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the review of physical access logs

Other Records

  • procedures addressing physical access monitoring
  • physical access logs or records
  • physical access monitoring records
  • other relevant documents or records