Domain 1
Unlocking PSP videos for Chinese learners
Develop a Physical Security Assessment
Welcome to the first session of the 2026 Unlocking PSP Study Group.
In this session, we set the foundation for your PSP® journey by focusing on one of the most critical competencies in physical security: Developing a Physical Security Assessment (Domain 1 – Task 1). This is not just about passing the exam — it’s about learning how to think like a security professional.
🔍 In this session, you will learn:
- The purpose and structure of a Physical Security Assessment
- How to identify critical assets, threats, and vulnerabilities
- The role of risk analysis in security design
- How assessment findings translate into security requirements and countermeasures
- Why effective security starts with structured planning and assessment phases
🎯 Key Insight:
- Security is not reactive — it is proactive.
- A well-executed assessment allows organizations to reduce risk, optimize resources, and design effective protection systems from the start.
Identify Assets, Threats & Risks
In this episode of Unlocking PSP, we break down Domain 1 – Task 2, one of the most critical steps in the PSP® certification journey:
Identifying assets, threats, and risks.
Before you can design effective security measures, you must clearly understand what you are protecting, what can go wrong, and why it matters.
🔍 In this session, you will learn:
🔹 How to identify and classify critical assets (people, property, information, and operations)
🔹 The different types of threats (natural, accidental, and intentional)
🔹 How to evaluate risk based on asset value, threats, and vulnerabilities
🔹 The importance of aligning security priorities with organizational objectives
🔹 How this step connects directly to risk assessments and security design decisions
🎯 Key Concept:
Risk is not random — it is the result of the relationship between assets, threats, and vulnerabilities.
Assessing Threats & Hazards, Risk Analysis
In this episode of Unlocking PSP, we break down Domain 1 – Task 3:
Assessing the Nature of Threats and Hazards.
Understanding threats isn't just about identifying them—it’s about evaluating their likelihood, severity, and impact to determine real risk.
🔍 In this session, you will learn:
🔹 The difference between threats and hazards and why it matters
🔹 How to analyze natural, intentional, and accidental threats
🔹 How to evaluate likelihood and potential impact
🔹 How the operating environment influences threat levels
🔹 How threats interact with vulnerabilities to create risk
🎯 Key Concept:
Risk is driven by the relationship between threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences — not by threats alone.
Conduct an Assessment to Identify and Quantify Vulnerabilities
In this episode of Unlocking PSP, we cover Domain 1 – Task 4:
Conducting an Assessment to Identify and Quantify Vulnerabilities of the Organization.
Identifying vulnerabilities is not enough — as a security professional, you must also measure and prioritize them to understand their true impact on risk.
🔍 In this session, you will learn:
🔹 How to identify organizational vulnerabilities across people, processes, and technology
🔹 Methods to collect and analyze assessment data (interviews, inspections, documentation review)
🔹 How to evaluate the effectiveness of existing security measures
🔹 How to interpret technical documents, standards, and system designs
🔹 How to quantify vulnerabilities to support risk-based decision-making
🎯 Key Concept:
Vulnerabilities represent weaknesses — but their importance depends on how they can be exploited and the impact they create.
Perform a Risk Analysis to Develop Countermeasures
In this episode of Unlocking PSP, we cover Domain 1 – Task 5:
Performing a Risk Analysis to Develop Effective Countermeasures.
This is where everything comes together—after identifying assets, threats, and vulnerabilities, you must analyze risk and translate it into actionable security solutions.
🔍 In this session, you will learn:
🔹 How to apply risk analysis methodologies to real-world scenarios
🔹 How to interpret and prioritize risks based on likelihood and impact
🔹 How to develop appropriate countermeasures aligned with identified risks
🔹 How to perform cost-benefit analysis to justify security investments
🔹 How to consider legal, regulatory, and organizational requirements in your recommendations
🎯 Key Concept:
Effective security is not about eliminating all risk—it’s about reducing risk to an acceptable level using balanced, justified countermeasures.