Integrating cyber security best practices into the IoT surveillance world

We know that technology is constantly changing, and it is no different when it comes to surveillance technology. Monitoring solutions are evolving and changing; They are no longer just instruments of surveillance; They can contribute to entrepreneurial innovation, process optimization, improved security and overall business performance. At the root of this rich ecosystem are millions of IP-based connected devices and sensors that bring positive business changes. Nevertheless, with technological development comes bad actors who are getting better at 'cracking the code'.

No matter how profitable a legitimate business may be, it can become more insecure due to being more connected. We hear of some unfortunate cases where hackers have broken thousands of cameras and gained access to internal business and critical infrastructure operations. There is overwhelming evidence that these bad actors revolutionize their game by using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning to improve the complexity of their attacks.

If you have an Internet Protocol (IP) endpoint, such as an IP surveillance camera, speaker / audio system, radar, or access control unit, and you are running on an unsecured network, guess what? You are vulnerable to cyber attack.

Businesses should prioritize cybersecurity for IP-based systems, such as surveillance cameras or radar or access control systems, running as an ongoing concern over an insecure network, within their own organizations, and in the supply chain. Any implemented or not implemented protective measures can affect everything else in the network.

Cyber ​​Security: A Collaborative Mitigation Effort

Often, the company's selected video surveillance cameras and management systems for a particular purpose, as are the options of the vendor to serve that purpose. Also, whether the camera manufacturer can support the same security protocols as the VMS manufacturer and if these protocols are well integrated into existing cyber risk mitigation then IT methods to prevent increased risks should not be considered later.

Another question of accountability arises when the entire monitoring operations run on the IT infrastructure: Does IT control the systems and equipment connected to the physical security network? Or is it the team's responsibility to direct IT to support integrated cyber security within physical security solutions? Ideally, this is a team effort: physical security management should naturally work with integrators and organizations to develop IT-compliant solutions.

Effective life cycle management

It is important that all of your physical assets manage the threats effectively, as each tool is a potential breach point. Often a wrong approach to this is life cycle management. The lifespan of an instrument is the first, that is, how long the monitoring solution will function optimally; The second is the economic life cycle of technology, i.e. it takes longer to maintain equipment than to buy new, more efficient technologies.

Keeping the system running with ongoing maintenance

Once you consider lifecycle management and know where the risks are and how to take advantage of them, you know that all software-based technologies, such as IP cameras, will need to be patched at some point. Therefore responsible vendors regularly issue firmware updates and security patches. Once a lifecycle management program is established, you can avoid spending more on replacing an important system component that aligns with your schedule and annual budget.

Device Management Software Solutions

Many organizations and critical infrastructure have hundreds of network monitoring tools, so automating lifecycle management through equipment management software solutions can save time and money. Automated lifecycle management provides a real-time list of all your network monitoring tools and simplifies the implementation of rigorous policies and practices across all your devices. It also helps to safely manage critical installation, deployment, configuration, security, and maintenance tasks. A real example of this is that when you receive a notification of security certificates expiring, the device management software will apply the new certificates to all the appropriate devices.

With the firmware upgrade, the software will verify that the devices are using the latest, more secure version. Wherever vulnerabilities occur, device management software shows you exactly where you sit at the forefront of cyber security and what steps should be taken to protect your technology.