NIST 800-53 REV 5 • PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
PE-1 — Policy and Procedures
Develop, document, and disseminate to {{ insert: param, pe-1_prm_1 }}: {{ insert: param, pe-01_odp.03 }} physical and environmental protection policy that: Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the physical and environmental protection policy and the associated physical and environmental protection controls; Designate an {{ insert: param, pe-01_odp.04 }} to manage the development, documentation, and dissemination of the physical and environmental protection policy and procedures; and Review and update the current physical and environmental protection: Policy {{ insert: param, pe-01_odp.05 }} and following {{ insert: param, pe-01_odp.06 }} ; and Procedures {{ insert: param, pe-01_odp.07 }} and following {{ insert: param, pe-01_odp.08 }}.
Supplemental Guidance
Physical and environmental protection policy and procedures address the controls in the PE family that are implemented within systems and organizations. The risk management strategy is an important factor in establishing such policies and procedures. Policies and procedures contribute to security and privacy assurance. Therefore, it is important that security and privacy programs collaborate on the development of physical and environmental protection policy and procedures. Security and privacy program policies and procedures at the organization level are preferable, in general, and may obviate the need for mission- or system-specific policies and procedures. The policy can be included as part of the general security and privacy policy or be represented by multiple policies that reflect the complex nature of organizations. Procedures can be established for security and privacy programs, for mission or business processes, and for systems, if needed. Procedures describe how the policies or controls are implemented and can be directed at the individual or role that is the object of the procedure. Procedures can be documented in system security and privacy plans or in one or more separate documents. Events that may precipitate an update to physical and environmental protection policy and procedures include assessment or audit findings, security incidents or breaches, or changes in applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines. Simply restating controls does not constitute an organizational policy or procedure.
Practitioner Notes
This control requires a documented physical and environmental protection policy. It covers who can access your facilities, how they gain access, and how you protect your physical environment — power, fire, water, temperature — from threats.
Example 1: Write a Physical Security Policy that covers facility access controls, visitor management, security monitoring, environmental protections, and emergency procedures. Store it in your policy library on SharePoint and review it annually or after any physical security incident.
Example 2: Pair your policy with documented procedures — step-by-step instructions for issuing access badges, escorting visitors, responding to fire alarms, and handling after-hours access requests. Train all employees on these procedures during onboarding and refresh the training annually.