Physical security culture: The neglected foundation for effective security

• Published in: Safety science Vol. 175; p. 106518
• Main Authors: Ciagala, Kelsey R., Reichin, Sydney L., Parsons, Katherine, Hunter, Samuel T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Organizational culture; Physical security culture; Safety culture; Security; Physical security culture; Security; Organizational culture; Safety culture
• ISSN: 0925-7535; 1879-1042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2024.106518

•Physical security culture is an understudied aspect of organizational culture.•Information security, physical security, and safety are all separate, yet related, constructs.•Information security, physical security, and safety are important for soft targets.•More research is needed to understand the impact physical security culture has on soft targets. Those tasked with protecting soft targets, including organizations, have tried to counteract threats against them by increasing security, yet the effectiveness of these measures remains largely unknown. Organizations, researchers, and practitioners can gain a more holistic understanding of how, when, why, and where security measures are effective (or ineffective) by examining organizational culture. The purpose of this paper more specifically is to build upon the current security culture models (i.e., Security Culture: Hofreiter et al., 2020: Nuclear Security Culture, IAEA, 2017) to propose a more comprehensive framework and nomological network of physical security culture that can be applied to organizations and soft targets. This article reviews the current understanding of physical security culture. Further, this article looks to the more developed information security culture and safety culture literatures to better understand how physical security culture may impact security outcomes in soft targets. This article also explores multiple avenues for future research that is needed to understand how physical security culture develops and how to best promote it for the health, safety, and security of employees.