What is CPTED and how does it apply to physical security?

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, or CPTED, is a set of architectural and landscaping principles that reduce crime opportunities through design rather than hardware. Key strategies include natural surveillance using clear sightlines, windows, and lighting so potential criminals feel observed; natural access control using pathways, landscaping, and terrain to guide legitimate traffic and discourage unauthorized entry; territorial reinforcement using fences, signage, and maintenance to establish clear ownership; and activity support placing legitimate activities in areas that n