The convergence of cyber and physical security: Why it matters

Improving physical security to protect digital assets

To ensure your digital resources are secure, you must prioritize physical security. Whoever accesses your premises will gain access to your digital assets and sensitive data. Investing in physical security technologies to protect your building is so important. 

You must invest in physical security staples to keep unauthorized users out of your building. Opting for cloud-based physical security tools will allow your security team to view security data and manage your physical security tools from anywhere, so cloud-based technologies are becoming the top choice for commercial security.

Here are some of the cloud-based security tools you might consider in your cyber-physical security strategy:

• Access control – access control, or an elevator card reader system for high-rise buildings, secures your premises from unauthorized users. It prevents lockpicking using keycards, fobs, and mobile credentials. You can keep your facility secure from intruders while allowing easy access for employees, and security staff can operate door locks from anywhere using their mobile devices.

• Surveillance – cloud-based surveillance cameras do not require server storage or complex wiring systems, making them straightforward to deploy. Your security staff can view surveillance feeds from anywhere using their mobile devices. 

• Alarm systems – you should equip your building with intrusion, broken glass, and gunshot alarms. Fire and carbon monoxide detectors must meet building health and safety regulations. With a sophisticated alarm system, you will not miss any critical security threats or breaches on the premises, even outside working hours.

By equipping your building with sophisticated security technologies that facilitate remote management, you can ensure fast and effective security response for air-tight security. For businesses seeking a reliable installation of these systems, Mammoth Security offers complete solutions in commercial security and surveillance.

Protecting cloud-based physical security data

You must consider cybersecurity if you wish to keep your facility secure when employing cloud-based physical security technologies. When you store your security data in the cloud and access cloud-based control features, you must ensure these resources stay in the right hands.

You must implement cybersecurity software to prevent an unauthorized third party from accessing your cloud-based physical security features. To do this, you can leverage open API integrations with cloud-based tools to integrate cybersecurity protection. This protection will ensure that a third party cannot remotely unlock doors, disable security cameras, or disable alarms – which could result in a colossal security breach.

Improving communication and collaboration

You can merge teams to improve communication and collaboration between your cyber and physical security teams. This way, both teams will have access to all of the security data they need to plan an effective response to security threats that affect both cyber and physical aspects.

Having bought and tested each service for cybersecurity is only the first step. You need to establish clear communication channels and protocols among your security employees to help them catch suspicious activity fast.

Eliminating interdepartmental data silos will ensure that all facets of security are covered in response procedures. And merging teams could result in a decreased workload for each team – resulting in the opportunity for downsizing your security personnel to cut overhead costs.

Implementing total zero trust

Zero trust security strategies prevent internal security breaches – whether caused by a rogue employee or a breached device. In cybersecurity, zero trust ensures that users within the network can only access the resources they need for their daily tasks and nothing further. This means that should their account become compromised, only a limited amount of data will be exposed. 

The same principle can apply to your physical security. You cannot guarantee the trustworthiness of every interviewee, contractor, or visitor using your building’s resources. These people should not be able to access the areas in your building that house sensitive data and assets. Instead, they should only gain role-based access credentials that allow them to use shared spaces. Server rooms and asset storage rooms should be sealed to these building users. 

Applying cybersecurity principles to your physical security strategy is the best way to ensure that internal security breaches cannot occur from a physical or digital standpoint.

Conclusion

Whether you want to improve cyber or physical security within your business, you can improve both by creating a cyber-physical security strategy. Merging teams will allow more insight into the security threats affecting both facets of your security plan and improve communication. Consider the best practices listed in this post and whether it’s time to restructure your approach to security.