Physical security is no longer a peripheral concern; it has become a critical control layer at the intersection of cyber security, personnel risk, governance and organisational culture. As federal agencies continue to adopt Zero Trust principles, weaknesses at the physical layer are increasingly exploited to bypass sophisticated digital controls.
This session explores the practical implications of the PSPF Annual Release 2025, which introduces significant changes across six security domains, raises expectations for governance and accountability, and clearly embeds Zero Trust thinking into physical and technical security requirements. Drawing on real world incidents such as tailgating, credential theft, insider misuse and access control failures, the presentation demonstrates why physical security remains one of the most frequently exploited threat vectors globally.
Designed specifically for internal auditors and practitioners, the session moves beyond compliance checklists. It explains how auditors can assess the effectiveness of physical security controls, evaluate how well these controls integrate with cyber and personnel security, test realistic scenarios, and provide meaningful assurance over security maturity. Practical tools, case studies and PSPF aligned audit techniques will help attendees identify gaps that matter, challenge assumptions and strengthen organisational resilience.
For internal auditors, this is a timely opportunity to deepen capability in an area where assurance can deliver immediate and tangible risk reduction at a time when expectations have never been higher.
Presenter:
Peter Butler, Former head of security for a number of Fed Gov agencies, and former NSW Police Office
Peter Butler is a senior protective security and governance specialist with over forty years’ experience across Commonwealth, state, and territory government security environments. He has served as an Agency Security Advisor (ASA) for multiple federal agencies, a ratified Commonwealth Communication Security Officer (COMSO), and a senior leader in law enforcement, reaching the rank of Chief Superintendent in NSW operational policing.
Peter’s expertise spans physical security, PSPF compliance, security risk management, insider threat, workplace investigations, and emergency management, supported by extensive qualifications including a Masters in Policing & Security, postgraduate studies in emergency management and corruption & integrity management, and certifications as an Insider Threat Management Practitioner (ITMP) and Security Risk Management Certified Practitioner (SRMCP).
He has designed and implemented protective security governance frameworks, delivered enterprise security risk assessments, and authored key security, physical, personnel, and information security policies across major Commonwealth agencies.
Peter brings deep, real world expertise to the intersection of physical security, cyber risks, and organisational threat environments, making him a highly authoritative speaker on “Physical Security in a Zero Trust World.”
Sponsored by: Centium
IIA-Australia Member: $0.00 AUD
IIA-Australia Non-Member: $65.00 AUD
CPE Points: 1