As physical security staffs have to worry about cyber threats increasingly more than in the past, it makes sense that concerns over things like ransomware and hacks of IoT-connected devices are at the forefront today.
Now, a new survey released in October is offering a clear snapshot of just how pressing these concerns are in the physical security world. Industry leader Genetec surveyed 5,500 global physical security professionals who distilled these cyber fears.
Among the findings, 31% of end-user respondents said their company or organization “was targeted by cyber threat actors in 2023,” according to a press release.
Within that group, 73% in the intelligence and national security sector were victims of these attacks — the highest percentage by far. This was followed by 46% in banking and finance, and 21% of those in the retail sector.
The survey revealed that 36% of end-user respondents said cybersecurity vulnerabilities were a “top challenge” facing their companies this year. One sector where an attack can literally mean life and death for its customer base is healthcare. Genetec reports that 43% of respondents in this field said cybersecurity vulnerabilities were the top challenge of 2023, more than for any other group.
In light of these concerns, companies are addressing cyber threats more directly than in the past. The survey shows that 42% of end-user respondents said their companies are currently harnessing cybersecurity tools “in their physical security environments.” This response illustrates very clearly just how serious these cyber concerns are. Just a year ago, 27% of end-user respondents in Genetec’s survey said they put proactive measures in place in response to cybersecurity threats.
“It is reassuring to see growing awareness of the cybersecurity of physical security systems," Mathieu Chevalier, Principal Security Architect at Genetec Inc., says in the release. "As more organizations look to implement enhanced cybersecurity measures, they need to look for manufacturers who are committed to cybersecurity and building tools that help them streamline the maintenance and updates of their systems.”
The qualms physical security professionals have over cyber-attacks aren’t theoretical. These attacks can inflict very real damage. In a blog post for Embedded Computing Design, Tim Morin writes that cyber-attacks can hit physical assets like manufacturing systems and shipping and distribution pipelines.
In this connected age, physical security officials can’t discount these trenchant calls for vigilance that are circulating so loudly today. They must build physical defenses that have cyber concerns firmly in mind.