The Australian government’s Physical Security Policy Framework (PSPF) provides a structured approach for agencies to manage their physical security risks, ensuring that personnel, property, and sensitive information are protected from a wide range of potential threats.
The PSPF acts as a guidance framework to standardise security requirements across all government entities. The PSPF is built around several core principles designed to help agencies manage physical security risks.
Agencies are required to implement security measures that are proportionate to the level of risk they face. This involves conducting security risk assessments and implementing appropriate countermeasures to mitigate those risks. Agencies must ensure that their facilities are secure from unauthorised access by using access control systems, physical barriers, and surveillance technologies.
The framework outlines how agencies should protect sensitive government information by securing storage areas and limiting access to authorised personnel. For facilities deemed critical to national security, the PSPF mandates enhanced physical security measures to protect against physical attacks, espionage, and sabotage.
The PSPF is applicable to:
- Federal Government Departments: All Australian federal government agencies must comply with the PSPF to ensure the security of their facilities and information.
- Contractors and Service Providers: Any external companies or contractors that work with the Australian government, especially those who handle sensitive information or work within government facilities, are also required to adhere to the PSPF’s guidelines.
- Critical Infrastructure Operators: Organisations that manage or operate critical infrastructure deemed essential to national security, such as utilities, communications, and transportation, must implement PSPF-compliant security measures.
Why PSPF / Benefits
- Governance and risk: Clear accountability, defined risk appetite, documented risk acceptance, and regular reporting to leadership. This ensures cyber security decisions are visible, deliberate, and defensible.
- Identity and access: Strong authentication, privileged access management, and least-privilege principles. Identity remains one of the most common paths used by threat actors, making this a critical control area.
- System hardening and patching: Secure configurations, timely patching, and application controls reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities that are frequently exploited.
- Monitoring and detection: Centralised logging, alerting, and analysis enable early detection of cyber threats and faster response when incidents occur.
- Incident response and recovery: Documented and tested response plans, reliable backups, and clearly defined recovery objectives support operational resilience and minimise downtime.
- Supplier assurance
- Managed services, cloud providers, and third parties are assessed and monitored to ensure they meet ISM expectations, reducing supply chain risk.
- Together, these components help organisations move from reactive security to predictable, repeatable cyber risk management.
Cyberverse Approach
We implement a risk-based, business-aligned methodology for the PSPF Compliance. Our services go beyond the mere assessment of technical controls; we support their integration and operationalisation within your environment, offering pragmatic strategies to achieve and maintain your targeted maturity level.
Whether starting at the foundational level or targeting higher sensitivity levels, we collaborate closely with your team to ensure your PSPF program is both effective and sustainable.
- Understand your ‘Why’?
- Scoping the PSPF boundaries
- PSPF Internal Assessment & Recommendations
- Technical Report
- Advisory Support with ISM Implementation
- Training & Awareness Programs
- Ongoing Monitoring & Review
- Tailored Uplift Roadmaps
- Alignment with Government & Industry Expectations
- PSPF Readiness and Compliance with IRAP Assessors