36 Security Dealer & Integrator / www.SecurityInfoWatch.com June 2017
T
he demand for
IP-based, physical
security solutions and
specifically remote
access to video sur-
veillance is growing with each passing
year; however, with each additional IP
security device that is deployed and
connected online, the risk for network
penetration increases.
Cyber criminals are getting more
skilled at exploiting network vulner-
abilities, and physical security equip-
ment has become just as vulnerable
to intrusion as any other smart device
linked to the Internet. As such, it is
important for security manufacturers,
dealers and integrators to understand
the cyber risk and common attacks on
physical security equipment.
Both vendors and their channel
partners have their own unique respon-
sibilities to fulfill when it comes to
increasing cyber safety. Vendors should
provide up-to-date, safe and hardened
products, while educating their suppli-
ers; and suppliers must work with the
end-user's IT department to develop
and apply best practices.
ere was a time when budget for
cybersecurity measures was rather low
on the list of important items for many
end-users. With limited funds, those
in charge of purchasing security sys-
tems became accustomed to spending
a certain amount on equipment. e
continued demand for cost-effective
products moved the vendor commu-
nity to train to sell lower-cost options.
All of these actions led to a lack of
investment in cyber defense mech-
anisms, which in turn affected the
development of technologies that were
sold for many years.
Today, the industry has turned
180 degrees, with customers ask-
ing for their security equipment to
implement cybersecurity controls of
the same caliber as those installed in
mission-critical applications in the
IT sector, regardless of the vertical.
Cyber Defense
for Physical Security
Best practices for both integrators and end-users
By John Distelzweig