Physical security is a critical component of an organization’s overall cybersecurity strategy. Despite its importance, it continues to lack a standardized framework for identifying and evaluating physical threats in a structured way. In contrast, the cybersecurity community has long relied on established models such as the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) and MITRE ATT&CK to guide digital threat assessments.

These frameworks offer consistency, repeatability, and alignment with compliance expectations for cyber-focused testing. However, no comparable structure currently exists for physical environments. As a result, physical assessments are often inconsistent, checklist-based, and disconnected from broader detection and response workflows.

The FORTRESS Framework addresses this gap. It introduces a layered and organized model tailored to real-world physical security threats such as tailgating, surveillance blind spots, and unauthorized entry. FORTRESS provides mapped tactics and techniques, aligned to compliance standards and supported by detection and response guidance, making it a practical tool for red teams, blue teams, and compliance professionals.