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Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
America's Cyber Defense Agency

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Physical Security

There are a vast number of physical locations that must be protected and there are preventative and protective strategies that can be implemented at all levels.

Physical Security

  • Active Shooter Preparedness
  • Bombing Prevention
  • Insider Threat Mitigation
  • Non-Confrontational Techniques
  • Protecting Houses of Worship
  • School Safety
  • Securing Public Gatherings
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems
  • Vehicle Ramming Mitigation

Overview

Defending our homeland begins with protecting our nation’s hometown security – our physical security. Providing comprehensive physical security requires expertise across a broad range of physical environments and threat types. From public gatherings, schools, businesses, and houses of worship, there are a vast number of physical locations that must be protected. These locations are vulnerable to active shooter, bombing, unmanned aircraft, vehicle ramming as well as insider threat attacks. There are preventative and protective strategies that can be implemented at the federal, state, local and tribal government levels, within business and organizational structures, and for each individual citizen to safeguard our nation’s physical security.

CISA’s Role

CISA’s most important mission is to protect the American people. As part of that mission, CISA provides access to tools and resources to support physical security and resilience. CISA coordinates with various stakeholders and experts to provide counsel and recommendations on protective measures that organizations of all sizes can implement to protect facilities, venues, and public gatherings. Every member of our community – friends, families, co-workers, neighbors – acts as the first line of defense in keeping the public safe and secure. CISA offers free tools, trainings, informational materials, and additional resources for all audiences to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate security incidents.

A "DO NOT CROSS" Police banner located at a crime scene

Active Shooter Preparedness

Browse the comprehensive set of courses, materials, and workshops to better prepare yourself to deal with an active shooter situation.
A person walking away from a suspicious bag

Bombing Prevention

Explore resources that protect life and critical infrastructure and build capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate bombing incidents.
A person passing money to a person across the street

Insider Threat Mitigation

Explore products and tools designed for CISA Stakeholders to define, detect, assess, and manage insider threats.
A person taking an important phone call

Non-Confrontational Techniques

Browse the variety of tools and resources designed to empower and educate employees, citizens, patrons, etc. with skills and support needed to identify and report suspicious behavior.
A traditional looking church against a blue sky

Protecting Houses of Worship

Learn how CISA supports efforts to maintain safe and secure houses of worship and related facilities while sustaining an open and welcoming environment.
A photo of a school safety sign

School Safety

Discover how CISA collaborates with other agencies to support K-12 schools and districts in their efforts to improve school safety and security.
People walking in a street festival

Securing Public Gatherings

Discover how CISA fosters collaboration between the private and public sectors to mitigate risk and enhance the security and resilience of public gatherings.
A drone flying at dusk near an aircraft over a city

Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Explore CISA’s commitment to managing cyber and physical risks posed by drones to our nation’s critical infrastructure.
A car driving through a downtown street

Vehicle Ramming Mitigation

Learn how CISA assists federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as infrastructure owners and operators in mitigating risk from a vehicle-ramming attack.

Featured Information

If You See Something, Say Something® campaign

EXTERNAL
A campaign to raise public awareness of the indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime and explain how to report suspicious activity.
If You See Something, Say Something®" campaign

Bomb-Making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP)

BMAP is a counter-terrorism risk management bombing prevention program. BMAP focuses on restricting access by malicious actors to explosive precursor chemicals, powders, target materials, associated components, and delivery methods.

Physical Security Considerations for Temporary Facilities Fact Sheet

PUBLICATION
The Physical Security Considerations for Temporary Facilities Fact Sheet helps temporary facilities— defined as those that are established for set time frames for hosting a venue— navigate their unique security challenges due to their provisional nature.
Download File (PDF, 1.22 MB)

Pathway to Violence

PUBLICATION
The "Pathway to Violence" provides information regarding the behavior indicators that assailants often demonstrate before a violent act.
Download File (PDF, 623.3 KB)

Training

What to Do Training Video Series

PUBLICATION
The What to Do Training Video Series are instructional videos that communicate the threat posed by IEDs, explain C-IED concepts, and demonstrate bombing prevention procedures. The videos show how to react to a bombing attack and deal with a variety of explosive threats.
View Files

K-12 School Security Guide Training Companion

COURSE | VIRTUAL/ONLINE
This training series is designed to help end users of the K-12 School Security Guide (3rd ed., 2022) develop a basic understanding of what physical security looks like in K-12 schools.

Publications

Unattended vs. Suspicious Item Postcard and Poster

PUBLICATION
The Unattended vs. Suspicious Postcard and Poster provide information on how to safely determine if an item is a serious threat or just unattended. Generally speaking, anything that is Hidden, Obviously suspicious, and not Typical (HOT) should be deemed suspicious. 
View Files

K-12 School Security Guide (3rd Edition) and School Security Assessment Tool

PUBLICATION
This Guide provides a doctrine to support schools in conducting vulnerability assessments and planning to implement layered physical security elements. The guide is designed for schools to employ in conjunction with the SSAT, a web-based tool that provides further guidance.
View Files

Homeland Threat Assessment

The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA) is a report synthesizing threat assessments across DHS including intelligence and operational components.
Homeland Threat Assessment

Personal Security Considerations Fact Sheet

JAN 14, 2021 | PUBLICATION
The CISA Personal Security Considerations Fact Sheet identifies behavioral and suspicious activity indicators and provides basic personal security measures to reduce the probability of becoming an attack victim.
Download File (PDF, 533.17 KB)

Contact CISA Central

CISA Central is the simplest way for critical infrastructure partners and stakeholders to engage with CISA. Please contact Central@cisa.gov

CISA Central
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