Generally considered two separate departments in most companies, the lines that divided cybersecurity and physical security have become more blurred in the wake of the pandemic.
This new reality has been spurred on by an increase in remote work due to health concerns and rapidly evolving information technology with an equally increasing number of attempted breaches. What once may have been considered the responsibility of one team or the other, such as access to premises or password management, is now part of an ongoing daily challenge to guarantee the safety of facilities, staff, and visitors, as well as remote work.
Advances in security technology have created an overlapping of security responsibilities leading to a need for increased integration of the two. Because many security services can now be automated through technological advancement, a greater convergence of physical and cybersecurity teams will prove to be as beneficial as it is inevitable. What unites them exceeds their traditional differences.
Distinct and Seperate Roles
Physical security teams traditionally managed access control, the monitoring of physical and logistical security, and the relative personnel involved. Cybersecurity teams dealt with password management, and more specifically cybercrime. But with our dependence on IT and the advancement of systems and applications that are increasingly cloud-based and remotely managed, cybersecurity is now indispensably linked to physical security needs. Hence, the necessity for shared objectives and practices by the two security teams is now a given.
Access management is a prime example. When automated through touchless access systems, smart locks, and video feed, the physical security of the facility cannot be disconnected from other security team siloes. Automated physical security systems are often the targets of hackers. Thus, convergence strategies and practices to restrict spaces and at the same time protect IT systems require excellent communication and a shared strategy of contrasting this phenomenon. Cyber breaches are not limited to sensitive data storage. Breaches easily include door locks, video feed cams, and even smartphones, placing the physical security of the company at risk, too.
Managing Remote Workers
Due to an exponential increase in remote work during the pandemic, often, especially in smaller businesses, both cybersecurity and physical security were blindsided so to speak. Many employees working from home are not technologically savvy and make common security errors such as leaving devices unsecured, creating easy-to-guess passwords or clicking on undesirable links. Security teams will need to intervene systemically to guarantee security by verifying and evaluating wireless connectivity, firewalls, access, and multiple-factor authentication (MFA) processes.
At the same time, with the rise in remote work and employees coming into a work facility less often as well as the addition of new hires, physical security teams are tasked with verifying visually that a person is authorized for access.
Introducing Best Practices
The convergence of the two security teams and close collaboration is a place to start. Because the technological evolution is so rapid, it is impossible to foresee immediate or long-term security necessities. Systems need to interconnect and function without a glitch.
The restructuring of a business’s security division with the IT and physical security managers working closely together to ascertain if the best systems are being used, functioning, and maximizing security considerations across the board. By combining expertise and efforts, responses to breaches will be more rapid and resources can be streamlined and used more efficiently.
The use of cloud servers avoids using physical on-premises space for the collection and storage of sensitive data. It also permits remote management of access points with real-time updates and the integration of security platforms onto a single interface service. However, cloud-based security applications are vulnerable to hacking. Cybersecurity needs to introduce protective measures including Ip restrictions, MFA, and end-to-end encryption to increase the invulnerability to the risk of the physical security team.
Increased Benefits
Through restructuring security divisions to include and encourage daily cooperation and communication between physical and cybersecurity teams, noteworthy benefits are available to companies. These include:
- Improved security thanks to the elimination of information gaps. This will aid in predicting and detecting threats for rapid intervention. The detection through IT of a credible threat will allow the company to physically secure facilities at risk and speedily inform authorities.
- Better communication and information sharing. Knowledge transfer between the two teams will enrich team members, increasing overall security skills.
- Improved crisis management. Regardless of the nature (targeted attack, natural disaster, or data breach) of a crisis, a convergence strategy will aid in avoiding missing risks specific to the situation, especially when those dangers overlap or are shared.
- Business continuity management will benefit. Cyber or physical risks are also business risks. A unified strategy will enable security teams to mitigate or eliminate risks and guarantee a company doesn’t lose revenue.
- Efficiency will improve the utilization of economic resources. Resources can be streamlined and not wasted on trying to coordinate two separate departments with resulting gaps in communication and information. Expenses can be reduced by eliminating duplicate roles and responsibilities as well as outdated security systems.
Convergence Improves Security
With digital and physical attacks overlapping daily, risk management must step up to the challenge. Cybersecurity and physical security are intrinsically linked with more in common than not. Introducing best practices for the convergence of security strategies will protect and benefit your employees, your facilities, and your business.
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