(TLP:CLEAR) Security Preparedness – Implementing Effective Security Controls and Visibility

Summary: Last month, Security Management Magazine published a series of articles offering guidance to help organizations strengthen their security controls. The articles cover three topic areas: when controls fail, compliance, and visitors and contractors.

Analyst Note: Security controls, also known as access controls, is a foundational component of an organization’s physical security program. For water and wastewater utilities, enforcing stringent access controls is critical for preventing unauthorized access to sensitive sites and safeguarding vital water and wastewater services for the community. Indeed, past security incidents that impacted water and wastewater utilities could have likely been prevented with more stringent access controls.

Accordingly, Security Management Magazine’s seven articles on security controls detail various aspects for organizations to consider. The seven articles are listed below:

• Excelling at Security Controls and Visibility
• The Data Behind the Frustration: Characteristics of Common Security Control Incidents
• If It Weren’t for Humans, Your Security Program May Very Well Be Perfect
• Passing the Inspection, Failing the Mission: The Risk of Compliance-Driven Security Programs
• Exploring the Relationship Between Compliance and Security Culture
• 7 Tips to Improve Visitor and Contractor Management
• Visitor Management Controls by the Numbers

Additionally, for water and wastewater utilities, robust key and lock systems are essential for mitigating physical security threats, where unauthorized access to sensitive assets can pose serious risks to public safety and operational integrity. In fact, earlier this year, WaterISAC published the “Keys & Locks – The Overlooked Security Risk – Fact Sheet.” The Fact Sheet emphasizes that keys and locks form the foundation of physical security, yet they are often overlooked in favor of electronic solutions. Understanding how your key system is structured—whether it uses restricted keyways, master key hierarchies, or standard locks—is critical to reducing vulnerabilities.

Original Source: https://www.asisonline.org/security-management-magazine/articles/2026/09/research-security-controls/

Additional Reading:

• (TLP:CLEAR) WaterISAC Physical Security and Resilience Advisory Committee: Keys & Locks – The Overlooked Security Risk – Fact Sheet
• (TLP:CLEAR) UK National Protective Security Authority Releases Guidance on Perimeter Security – Security Fences and Gates

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 1, 3, & 4