With the increased use of cloud-based systems and businesses’ adoption of the internet of things, more aspects of a company are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats.
Here we’ll talk about the importance of merging physical and digital security for a converged approach to modern-day security. We’ll also explain how to implement a converged security system in your business and why you stand to benefit from this emerging security practice.
BEST PRACTICES FOR CONVERGED SECURITY
To understand the benefits of a converged security system, you must first understand how to merge digital and physical security. Through doing this, you’ll be able to leverage data and provide added protection for physical and digital assets within a business.
Using access control to protect physical and digital assets
Access control is an element of physical security that can be used to protect digital assets stored within office buildings. You can install access control internally and externally to limit access to the building and provide additional restrictions to areas in the building where sensitive data is stored.
Mobile credentials are becoming increasingly popular, with 54% of businesses expected to follow this access control technology trend and upgrade in the next three years. Mobile credentials provide an easier way for access cards to be created and given to new employees and allow for touchless entry for added convenience.
Access control systems can be cloud-based, requiring additional cybersecurity software to make access control systems impervious to cyberattacks.
Implement best practices for cybersecurity
Cybersecurity awareness is an integral part of any successful cybersecurity plan for your business. Any staff member with access to sensitive information within the company must have knowledge and awareness of best practices for cybersecurity.
Since the majority of cybersecurity incidents are caused by human error, it would be prudent to educate all employees on the following cybersecurity practices:
- Keeping all software up-to-date and secure
- How to avoid phishing scams, malware, and ransomware
- Requirements for cybersecurity installations on company laptops and tablets
Merge physical and digital security teams
Since physical and digital security are becoming less distinct concepts, it makes sense that you should bring physical security teams and IT teams together.
By merging teams, you will increase communication and provide a more effective and responsive protocol for handling cybersecurity incidents. With the merging of security and IT teams comes increased cooperation and workload reduction, which may present an opportunity to streamline your team and cut costs.
Leverage data for a more comprehensive security overview
Integrated physical and digital security systems allow data from these two different platforms to be leveraged, providing a more comprehensive overview of security data.
WHY CONVERGE PHYSICAL & DIGITAL SECURITY?
Here we will cover some of the main benefits you can expect from restructuring your security system to merge physical and digital security.
Stronger overall security
A segregated security approach means that one team is always a step behind the other to respond to potential security threats.
Suppose your physical and digital security teams are combined. In that case, they can cover staff training, secure systems where information could be obtained, and provide added protection for personal information for staff members. Combining teams allows for a response to threats involving physical and digital security processes.
Improved incident response
Incidents can often intersect both physical and digital spaces. With a unified team, responding to incidents becomes more effective. Separate units will require additional communication to incorporate physical and digital threat response, but with a converged approach, there will be a quicker and more effective protocol for responding to threats that fall into both physical and digital realms.
Cost-saving opportunities
As mentioned earlier, with the convergence of IT and physical security teams comes an increased efficiency which may reduce workloads and present the opportunity to downsize your team and cut costs. Your company can also save both the time and money spent coordinating two separate units – setting up meetings and providing reports will no longer be necessary. This will create more time for your security team to focus on more essential tasks.
Improved communication for leveraging data
Staff who may have been divided by their turf allegiance can work together in a converged security effort, improving communication. Information can be shared and leveraged more easily to provide a security strategy in line with the overall business strategy. Individuals will also become more aware of aspects in the security strategy that were not previously part of their job descriptions, broadening their skillset.
SUMMARY
The convergence of digital and physical security is the future of the security landscape. The assets a business needs to protect are becoming both digital and physical, so too is the nature of cyber and physical security threats. There is a need for cybersecurity and physical security convergence to improve a business’ security strategy and prepare for modern security risks.
