Definition
Physical refers to the tangible aspects of technology systems, encompassing all hardware components and the environments in which they are housed and operated. This includes everything from servers and network cables to data center facilities and the physical security measures protecting them. In practice, managing physical aspects involves ensuring proper installation, maintenance, environmental controls like cooling and power, and access restrictions. Understanding physical considerations is crucial for maintaining system integrity, preventing unauthorized access, and ensuring operational continuity. For instance, securing a server room with keycard access and surveillance cameras is a key physical control. This differs from logical security, which deals with software based access controls and data encryption. Concepts related to physical security are frequently assessed in certifications like CompTIA Security+ and CISSP.