Security Assessment at First Entry (SAFE) Fact Sheet
The Security Assessment at First Entry (SAFE) factsheet provides an overview of the assessment designed to rapidly evaluate a facility's current security posture and identify options for facility owners and operators to mitigate relevant threats.
Overview
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Security Assessment at First Entry (SAFE) is designed to rapidly evaluate a facility’s current security posture and identify options for facility owners and operators to mitigate relevant threats.
Program Description
The SAFE capability was developed as a rapid, high-level security assessment intended for facilities that may have minimal to no established security programs or postures such as houses of worship, schools, community facilities, etc. SAFE is a first step for facility managers to develop an effective security program and to mitigate risk. Using SAFE, assessors provide a structured review of a facility’s existing security measures and delivers feedback on observed vulnerabilities and options for improving security.
SAFE Visits
The SAFE assessment is free, quick, and designed for ease of use for owners and operators. It entails a trained assessor conducting a brief walk-through of a site and discussion of its existing security features and concerns. The SAFE visit will:
- Focus on physical security
- Take no more than 2 hours to complete
- Be objective
Outcomes from Visits
After completing the SAFE visit, the trained assessor delivers a report to the requesting stakeholder:
- Commendable actions: During the assessment, the assessor will make note of existing practices that are noteworthy for their effectiveness and that should be continue.
- Vulnerabilities and options for consideration: The assessor will also make note of any areas that could benefit from additional attention from a security perspective—areas relating to security management, entry control, perimeter security, and other physical security measures. Each identified vulnerability will have one or more mitigation options for owners and operators to consider. These options are purely voluntary, and each facility determines what actions to take considering its own current security posture, anticipated growth or organizational changes, budgetary outlook, and other factors.
- Individuals, agencies, and organizations: Useful points of contact for owners and operators as they proceed with efforts to improve a facility’s security posture.
- Helpful links and references: Resources that provide more information about security options and ways to implement them.
For more information or to seek additional help, please contact your local CISA Protective Security Advisor (PSA) or
reach out to CISA Central at central@cisa.dhs.gov.