Physical security
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Specific security measures
- Using NZSIS-approved products
- Perimeter access controls
- Building construction
- Alarm systems
- Individual alarm options
- Access control systems
- Alarm system and other building management systems interoperability
- Locks, key systems, and doors
- Closed-circuit television
- Security lighting
- Security containers and cabinets
- Secure rooms, safes, and vaults
- Visitor control
- Receptionists and guards
- Other physical security measures
PHY019
Physical protection of information
Protecting single items or limited amounts of information
Your organisation must protect individual documents in line with the Management protocol for information security and its associated requirements.
Material with a compartmented marking, such as a codeword or SCI, may need additional mandatory security controls.
Provide physical protection for hardcopy and electronic information according to its Business Impact Level (BIL).
A ‘limited amount of information’ means a grouping of information that doesn’t result in a higher BIL or need a higher protective marking than the information collection that it comes from.
The relationship between BILs and classification levels
At times, there may be a relationship between security classifications for official information and BILs. The security classifications directly match the BILs when considering the confidentiality of individual documents or files. However, this does not necessarily apply to collections of assets. For example, within a collection of assets with a aggregated business impact level of 4, each individual item might not be marked as CONFIDENTIAL.
However, a protective marking, or confidentiality, of an asset isn’t the only factor to consider when you work out a BIL. You need to consider all factors affecting the security of an asset before you apply a BIL. BILs also need to consider integrity and availability.
The following tables summarises the likely links between protective markings and BILs of individual documents or limited amounts of information.
Individual document marking |
Business Impact Level |
UNCLASSIFIED (may not be marked) | 1 Low |
IN CONFIDENCE | 2 Medium |
SENSITIVE OR RESTRICTED | 3 High |
CONFIDENTIAL | 4 Very High |
SECRET | 5 Extreme |
TOP SECRET | 6 Catastrophic |
Protecting aggregated information
Aggregated information means collections of protectively-marked or unclassified official information. For example, collections of electronic information.
When information is aggregated, it often becomes more valuable and needs greater protection.
Your organisation must implement physical security measures to mitigate the risks associated with aggregated information.
For more guidance, go to:
Protecting information with a catastrophic BIL
TOP SECRET or aggregated information that could cause catastrophic damage to New Zealand’s national security if its security was breached, can only be stored in an area certified by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS). You need their certification before you first use an area and after any modifications to it.
You can arrange for another agency to hold your TOP SECRET information if you don’t have suitable facilities or the cost of establishing facilities is not justifiable. However, if your organisation owns the information, you must provide security containers for holding the information and control access into the containers.
Page last modified: 10/02/2020