Common Threats to Router and Switch Physical & Mitigation

There are four types of threats involved during Physical Installations:
Hardware Threats
Electrical Threats
Environmental Threats
Maintenance Threats

Hardware Threats
What are Hardware Threats? It involves threats that bring physical damage to the router or switch.

Mitigations for Hardware Threats:
In the wiring closets or computer or telecommunications rooms, there should be Mission-critical Cisco network equipment that meet some requirements. Such requirements are that the room must be locked with only authorised personnel allowed access, the room should not accessible in any way possible apart from the secured access point, the room should use electronic access control with all entry attempts logged by security systems and monitored by a security personnel.

Electrical Threats
What is a Electrical Threat? It includes irregular fluctuations in voltage, such as brownouts and voltages spikes.

Mitigations for Electrical Threats
Electrical Threats can be limited by adhering to some guidelines:
1) Install Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for Mission-critical Cisco network devices
2) Install back up generator systems for Mission-critical supplies
3) Install redundant power supplies on critical devices

Environmental Threats
What are Environmental Threats? It includes very low or high temperatures, moisture, electrostatic, and magnetic Interference Environmental threats, such as temperature extremes or humidity extremes.

Mitigations for Environmental Threats
To limit environmental damage to Cisco network devices, the following actions can be taken:
1) Supply the room with dependable temperature and humidity control system.
2) Remove any sources of electrostatic and magnetic interference in the room

Maintenance Threats
What is Maintenance threats? It includes not having back up parts or components for critical network components; not labeling the components and the cabling correctly. It also includes poor handling of key electronic components, electrostatic discharge, poor cabling, poor labeling, and so on.

Mitigations for Maintenance Threats
To prevent maintenance-related threats, follow the general rules:
1) Clearly label all equipment cabling and secure the cabling to equipment racks to prevent accidental damage, disconnection or incorrect termination
2) Use cable runs, raceways, or both to traverse rack-to-ceiling or rack-to-rack connections
3) Maintain a stock of critical spares for emergency use

Reference:
http://computernetworkingnotes.com/network-security-access-lists-standards-and-extended/mitigating-common-threats.html