Assignment 4: Enhancing Physical Security for a Research Laboratory

You are a physical security consultant hired by a research laboratory conducting cutting-edge experiments and holding valuable intellectual property. The laboratory is concerned about unauthorized access, theft of research data, and potential safety hazards. Your task is to develop a comprehensive physical security plan to protect the laboratory’s assets and ensure the safety of researchers.1. Access Control for Laboratory Areas: Evaluate the current access control measures for different laboratory areas. Propose enhancements, such as biometric access controls, key card systems, and restricted access zones. Discuss the importance of controlling access based on researchers’ roles and the sensitivity of experiments.2. Equipment Security Measures: Assess the security of research equipment and valuable assets within the laboratory. Recommend measures such as asset tracking systems, surveillance cameras for equipment rooms, and secure storage solutions. Address the risk of theft and tampering with valuable equipment.3. Emergency Shutdown Procedures: Develop emergency shutdown procedures for laboratory experiments and equipment. Outline protocols for responding to safety incidents, equipment malfunctions, and potential hazards. Discuss the training of researchers in emergency response and the importance of quick and effective shutdown procedures.4. Secure Data Storage and Handling: Review the procedures for data storage and handling within the laboratory. Propose measures to secure research data, including encrypted storage solutions,regular data backups, and access controls for sensitive data. Discuss the importance of data integrity and confidentiality.5. Visitor Access and Monitoring: Develop guidelines for managing visitor access to the laboratory. Discuss the use of visitor logs, escort policies, and background checks for visitors. Propose measures to monitor and control the activities of external contractors or collaborators within the laboratory.Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Compare and contrast the methods of disaster recovery and business continuity. Explain risk management in the context of information security.  Use technology and information resources to research issues in disaster recovery. Write clearly and concisely about disaster recovery topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.