As new and established businesses increasingly adopt cloud- and mobile-access security systems, the lines between traditional physical security and IT personnel are beginning to blur.
Traditionally, the common approach to organizational security has been to operate physical and cybersecurity systems as separate (though unrelated) pursuits, isolating each device and collection of policies in an effort to reduce the risk of sophisticated cross-platform cyberattacks.
However, in the modern world, it is increasingly possible to utilize virtual systems and IT-related technologies to manage and control installed physical security equipment, which means that an effective and secure security system must be designed with input from the physical security and IT teams .
The rise of cloud-based security management
One of the most common reasons businesses move to a converged security strategy is to improve efficiency by introducing IoT devices capable of managing and monitoring both the underlying building management system and the installed security network.
Integrated IoT sensors, sirens, surveillance cameras, and access systems can be used to provide a more comprehensive view of an organization's physical security defenses, but only if the network is intelligently designed and easy to monitor, and the cloud offers both benefits and challenges for this type of implementation .
Despite the advantages of converging physical and cyber security systems that can be viewed and adjusted remotely at any time, there are potential risks associated with cloud and converged strategies. In fact, 86 percent of organizations believe migrating systems and applications can be "complex and costly," adding to the challenges of cloud adoption.
Often, these issues can be attributed to poor communication between physical security personnel and IT teams. For example, in newly converged cloud-based security systems, IT staff may attempt to access and tune physical security hardware according to their own set of internal policies, accidentally exposing vulnerabilities or vulnerabilities that were previously covered only by physical security protocols.
Therefore, successful security convergence and cloud migration requires a nuanced approach with collaboration and communication across multiple stakeholders and key touchpoints.
IT's Impact on Physical Security Systems
So how can modern organizations seek to develop more effective converged security protections? In short, businesses should involve IT teams in the decision-making and implementation of physical security systems.
Reports reveal that 97% of IT leaders are concerned about data breaches in their organizations, leading many companies to focus on cybersecurity, although both can be reliably secured by converging the design and operation of network and physical security policies strengthening.
If the gap between physical and network security systems is to be narrowed or completely eliminated, IT must be given more control over the evaluation, purchase and management of all physical security technologies to ensure these devices are suitable for cloud and mobile support.
Physical security teams alone may not properly understand the determinants that enable physical security hardware to effectively integrate with complex cloud-based management systems. IT professionals can help review and evaluate proposed hardware integrations to ensure that each device is free from vulnerabilities that, once connected to the local network, could expose the converged system to cyber threats.
Another reason to get IT involved is that they may be aware of important considerations that are often overlooked by security or property management teams. While security teams may prioritize aspects such as usability, build quality, and convenience, IT is tasked with ensuring that the technical specifications of all hardware devices provide the necessary cybersecurity protections, as this will help prevent the entire secure network from being easily possibility of being harmed.
Finding the balance point of integrated security development
Of course, improving the way enterprises achieve the convergence of physical and cyber security requires more than handing over all control to cybersecurity experts. Although the decision-making process will involve more people and may take longer, this collaborative approach helps ensure that the installed hardware devices are best suited to business needs, regulatory standards, or to interoperate with newly implemented mobile and cloud-based systems .
However, IT teams shouldn't ignore the needs of other team members either. When developing any form of converged mobile or cloud-based security, IT teams must remember that on-site facilities, security, and real estate personnel are required to effectively operate and tune these systems if they are to continue to perform their duties. Ideal standard.
In other words, no matter how much time and effort IT spends procuring and designing an impenetrable set of interconnected security appliances, if the resulting installation cannot be easily understood and operated by field personnel, physical security vulnerabilities are bound to be exploited. occur.
That's why it's critical that physical security and IT teams work together to find the right balance of internal collaboration when designing a cloud-based converged security system. Utilizing checklists and detailed project plans ensures that procurement and implementation decisions are not finalized until both departments are satisfied that the system meets their needs.
Ultimately, organizations must understand that in order to best leverage cloud-based mobile technologies, they need to adapt their approach to security management. Siled security policies and protocols are not conducive to building effective, integrated business security systems. The key to finding the balance is to collaborate from the start.
With the policies and procedures already outlined, the evaluation, purchase and management of physical security technologies for converged and cloud-based environments will be smoother and more efficient without compromising security.