Physical Security focuses on the protection of people, property and facilities through the use of security forces, security systems and security procedures. Physical security personnel oversee proprietary or contract uniformed security operations, identify security system requirements, assess internal and external threats to assets, and develop policies, plans, procedures and physical safeguards to counter those threats. Physical security can include the use of barriers, alarms, locks, access control systems, protective lighting, closed circuit televisions, and other state-of-the-art security technology.

Information Security involves safeguarding sensitive information. Although information security has traditionally been associated with protection of US Government classified information, it can also include privacy data, proprietary information, contractual information, and intellectual property. Information security deals with issues such as who should access the data and how the data is stored, controlled, marked, disseminated and disposed of.

Personnel Security deals with ensuring the integrity and reliability of an organization's workforce. Personnel security encompasses background investigations, drug testing, and other pre-employment screening techniques, as well as adjudication of results and granting security clearances and other information access privileges.

Information Systems Security involves maintaining the confidentiality, reliability and availability of data created, stored, processed and/or transmitted via automated information systems. Information systems security personnel develop procedures and safeguards to protect against hackers and other unauthorized efforts to access data, viruses, and a number of other threats to information systems.

Excerpted from Career Opportunities in Security, Copyright 1998 by ASIS International. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.