Page 63 - DCAP309_INFORMATION_SECURITY_AND_PRIVACY

Unit 5: Physical Security

24. Both onsite and offsite backup storage should be considered and used. Notes
25. Regulate power supplies to the extent possible.
26. Prepare for electrical power fluctuations by using surge suppressors or electrical power
filters and using uninterruptible power sources to serve as auxiliary electrical supplies as
backup to critical systems.
27. Design electrical systems to better withstand fires, floods, and other disasters.

28. Ensure distributed use of outlets by all equipment.
29. Use anti-static carpeting and pads, and use anti-static sprays whenever possible.
30. Get appropriate insurance, even if your business is a very small concern.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
3. Physical security is frequently .................................. in support of more technical and dramatic
concerns like hacking, virus, such as, Trojans, and spy ware.
4. Hardware should protect against internal and external intruders by using
.................................. factor.

5.3 Physical Threats to the Information System

Physical threat to a computer system could be as a result of loss of the whole computer system,
damage of hardware, damage to the computer software, theft of the computer system, vandalism,
natural disaster such as flood, fire, war, earthquakes etc. Acts of terrorism such as the attack on
the world trade centre is also one of the major threats to computer which can be classified as
physical threat.
Natural hazards, civil unrest and terrorism all comes under disaster. A disaster is defined as a
sudden misfortune that is ruinous to an undertaking. This means that there is little time to react
at the time of the misfortune. Preparations have to have been made in advance. The focus
should, therefore, be on disaster planning.

Did u know? What is disaster?
A disaster is defined as a sudden misfortune that is ruinous to an undertaking.

5.3.1 Natural Disasters

Certain natural disasters could either severely damage the computer system directly, or prevent
its operations.
These include:
1. Local flooding including fracture of air conditioning or water cooling equipment,
2. Local landslide, earth quake, subsidence and so on,

3. Exceptional weather conditions.

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