What should a bank require from employees to ensure secure access to IT departments?

Requiring authentication through a locked barrier ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive areas, such as IT departments. This measure is crucial in safeguarding sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access and potential threats, including data breaches and insider threats. By implementing physical security measures like locked barriers, a bank can effectively control who enters critical areas, thereby adding an essential layer of protection to its IT infrastructure.

While annual security training and regular software updates are also vital components of an overall security strategy, they focus more on educating employees and ensuring that systems are up-to-date rather than controlling physical access to restricted areas. Scheduled check-ups may contribute to maintaining security standards but do not directly address access control to specific departments. The primary focus of the question is on secure access, making authentication through a locked barrier the most relevant and effective choice.