diff --git a/volatility/framework/constants/__init__.py b/volatility/framework/constants/__init__.py
index 5b2f27c2d..d08dfd8f2 100644
--- a/volatility/framework/constants/__init__.py
+++ b/volatility/framework/constants/__init__.py
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ SYMBOL_BASEPATHS = [
 ]
 BANG = "!"
 PACKAGE_VERSION = "3.0.0_alpha1"
-DISABLE_MULTITHREADED_SCANNING = False
 AUTOMAGIC_CONFIG_PATH = 'automagic'
 
 LOGLEVEL_V = 9
@@ -56,3 +55,6 @@ LINUX_BANNERS_PATH = os.path.join(CACHE_PATH, "linux_banners.cache")
 MAC_BANNERS_PATH = os.path.join(CACHE_PATH, "mac_banners.cache")
 
 ProgressCallback = Optional[Callable[[float, str], None]]
+
+# Options are 'multiprocessing', 'threading' or None
+PARALLELISM = 'multiprocessing'
diff --git a/volatility/framework/interfaces/layers.py b/volatility/framework/interfaces/layers.py
index 38277948e..ea7a398cc 100644
--- a/volatility/framework/interfaces/layers.py
+++ b/volatility/framework/interfaces/layers.py
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ class DataLayerInterface(interfaces.configuration.ConfigurableInterface, metacla
             progress = DummyProgress()  # type: ProgressValue
             scan_iterator = functools.partial(self._scan_iterator, scanner, sections)
             scan_metric = self._scan_metric(scanner, sections)
-            if scanner.thread_safe and not constants.DISABLE_MULTITHREADED_SCANNING:
+            if scanner.thread_safe and not constants.PARALLELISM:
                 progress = multiprocessing.Manager().Value("Q", 0)
                 scan_chunk = functools.partial(self._scan_chunk, scanner, progress)
                 with multiprocessing.Pool() as pool:
diff --git a/volatility/framework/layers/physical.py b/volatility/framework/layers/physical.py
index c0e42afcb..9b0ad6562 100644
--- a/volatility/framework/layers/physical.py
+++ b/volatility/framework/layers/physical.py
@@ -17,10 +17,11 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the
 # specific language governing rights and limitations under the License.
 #
-
+import threading
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 from typing import Any, Dict, IO, List, Optional
 
-from volatility.framework import exceptions, interfaces
+from volatility.framework import exceptions, interfaces, constants
 from volatility.framework.configuration import requirements
 from volatility.framework.layers import resources
 
@@ -77,6 +78,15 @@ class BufferDataLayer(interfaces.layers.DataLayerInterface):
         ]
 
 
+class DummyLock:
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        pass
+
+    def __exit__(self, type, value, traceback):
+        pass
+
+
 class FileLayer(interfaces.layers.DataLayerInterface):
     """a DataLayer backed by a file on the filesystem"""
 
@@ -93,6 +103,12 @@ class FileLayer(interfaces.layers.DataLayerInterface):
         self._accessor = resources.ResourceAccessor()
         self._file_ = None  # type: Optional[IO[Any]]
         self._size = None  # type: Optional[int]
+        # Construct the lock now (shared if made before threading) in case we ever need it
+        if constants.PARALLELISM == 'threading':
+            self._lock = threading.Lock()
+        else:
+            # We don't need a lock for multiprocessing because child threads can't inherit file descriptors by default
+            self._lock = DummyLock()
         # Instantiate the file to throw exceptions if the file doesn't open
         _ = self._file
 
@@ -115,10 +131,11 @@ class FileLayer(interfaces.layers.DataLayerInterface):
         # Zero based, so we return the size of the file minus 1
         if self._size:
             return self._size
-        orig = self._file.tell()
-        self._file.seek(0, 2)
-        self._size = self._file.tell()
-        self._file.seek(orig)
+        with self._lock:
+            orig = self._file.tell()
+            self._file.seek(0, 2)
+            self._size = self._file.tell()
+            self._file.seek(orig)
         return self._size
 
     @property
@@ -141,8 +158,12 @@ class FileLayer(interfaces.layers.DataLayerInterface):
                 invalid_address = self.maximum_address + 1
             raise exceptions.InvalidAddressException(self.name, invalid_address,
                                                      "Offset outside of the buffer boundaries")
-        self._file.seek(offset)
-        data = self._file.read(length)
+
+        # TODO: implement locking for multi-threading
+        with self._lock:
+            self._file.seek(offset)
+            data = self._file.read(length)
+
         if len(data) < length:
             if pad:
                 data += (b"\x00" * (length - len(data)))
@@ -162,8 +183,9 @@ class FileLayer(interfaces.layers.DataLayerInterface):
                 invalid_address = self.maximum_address + 1
             raise exceptions.InvalidAddressException(self.name, invalid_address,
                                                      "Data segment outside of the " + self.name + " file boundaries")
-        self._file.seek(offset)
-        self._file.write(data)
+        with self._lock:
+            self._file.seek(offset)
+            self._file.write(data)
 
     def __getstate__(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Do not store the open _file_ attribute, our property will ensure the file is open when needed
diff --git a/volatility/framework/layers/scanners/__init__.py b/volatility/framework/layers/scanners/__init__.py
index 0528f8960..97e7fecb9 100644
--- a/volatility/framework/layers/scanners/__init__.py
+++ b/volatility/framework/layers/scanners/__init__.py
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ class BytesScanner(layers.ScannerInterface):
 
 
 class RegExScanner(layers.ScannerInterface):
-    # TODO: Document why this isn't thread safe?
-    thread_safe = False
+    thread_safe = True
 
     def __init__(self, pattern: bytes, flags: int = 0) -> None:
         super().__init__()