Traditionally, business strategies involved having one team or department for physical security and another group of IT professionals for cyber security. They were equally important, but rigorously separated, with one group managing certain procedures and devices, while another group managed computers and connections.
The traditional approach was based on the premise that sensitive data will remain secure, even if security is compromised, or vice versa. If digital data is breached, it would not affect significant asset protection.
Today, this type of security management is outdated and ineffective as many businesses and enterprises are moving towards installing IoT devices and using smart technology.
Many developments in artificial intelligence are now aimed at facilitating the creation of a link between cyber security and all types of security and all professionals involved in a company’s security strategy. The emphasis now is on logistics and IT protection experts working together to leverage a converged business protection system.
What does security convergence imply?
Interconnected systems are challenging the traditional separation of cyber and physical security as technology advances. What previously functioned as individual isolated systems contrasts with the potential offered by technological connectivity. New technological advances require teams to work closely together for new technology to be truly effective.
The skill sets of all security team members come together to create operational procedures to respond to often complex vulnerabilities and to better protect businesses from a variety of threats and risks. Physical asset protection, video surveillance installation and access restriction along with intrusion detection can now be managed together through a single interface.
With the increasing use of interconnection technology, the convergence of equipment becomes more urgent as enterprises face larger potential attack surfaces. Convergence requires that all team members, regardless of their department, share the common goal of protecting company assets.
Convergence is not simply merging two departments into one larger one. Convergence requires team members to establish goals, policies, and procedures so that more than just one department, the business benefits from a single team that provides security and manages risks, vulnerabilities, and threats together.
However, for protection teams to merge successfully, several important processes must be put in place.
information sharing
Communication is the starting point for security convergence. All staff must commit to convergence. Each department must be aware of the objectives of the other department. Cybersecurity professionals can schedule smart devices according to their priorities, which, however, can create difficulties for important security teams. To build a converged system, one of management’s priorities should be planning how departments will share procedures, policies, and resources.
Business management should organize a series of meetings and workshops where significant protection and cybersecurity teams share what they know and how they manage existing systems. Both teams must work together to create a common database.
Converged security systems must meet the needs of physical and cyber security departments
To unify privacy goals and encourage collaboration, a management team should be created to combine leaders from both teams. The most experienced and authoritative members of both departments should be included, not just select any member of the department. Experts who have been recognized by peers in their departments for their expertise are ideal.
Converged leadership will be responsible for providing team members with the tools, policies, and procedures involved in using these tools. Communication should help the different teams understand not only their own roles, but also the roles of the other team involved. This will help expand the skill set of all converged team members and build stronger collaboration among members.
Security managers will need to formalize responsibilities and roles. Common vulnerabilities for cyber and significant protection in connected assets will need to be identified, assessed and then analyzed to identify common solutions.
Creating a framework for combined security data
The main advantage of combining the significant and cybersecurity teams is that both teams can query useful data from both types of devices and processes, especially how they are interconnected. Creating a common framework for the data collected allows both groups of professionals to analyze a larger and more detailed collection of information.
Creating a common framework will allow both teams to contribute data to a central database that was previously divided and separated into one department or another. This convergence of data can be analyzed to provide convergent observations and useful information for the entire system.
Cloud
Cloud-based platforms for data convergence can be more efficient than traditional systems. Combining cyber security systems with physical devices and systems in a cloud management platform will allow all converged team members to remotely monitor the system and make adjustments, when necessary, from anywhere. It will also facilitate the use of unified processes and procedures.
Another compelling benefit is that companies no longer need to install and protect expensive hardware on-premises when using the cloud. Everything can be stored on cloud servers and managed remotely.
Other benefits include the use of the latest technical tools, adding, removing or up/down of resources quickly without interruption, but most of all, it frees up staff to focus on specific strategic needs and tasks instead of wasting time and skills. valuable in constant monitoring.
Delete separate databases
With a common database framework and remote cloud management, security and cyber teams will no longer need to maintain separate databases. Historical data can be moved to the cloud, where it can be easily accessed by all staff, IT and physical.
The purpose of creating a converged system is to communicate and share data collected using a single platform. All devices, such as keypad door access control systems, CCTV cameras, intrusion sensors or access control systems, will require programming to send all data to a common management platform. This will allow any member of the security team to examine all the data in a converged system. The combined data can result in a better understanding of vulnerabilities and features.
Organizational barriers to security convergence
Although technology is driving the need for convergence, there are still hurdles to overcome. Budget constraints can slow progress, as can dispersed staff and business locations. For employees who have worked in certain roles for years, new responsibilities and procedures can create confusion about individual roles within the security team. Skill issues can also get in the way of the initial period of change.
In conclusion
The cybersecurity versus physical security mentality is no longer effective in protecting assets. New company policies and procedures will need to be developed that combine the two types of skill sets involved along with creating cross-data analytics.
To successfully build a converged enterprise security system, IT security staff and physical security team members will need to work together, sharing data and expertise at all levels to address security gaps.
With smart technology, cyber systems and physical security are increasingly interdependent. Security convergence is no longer a futuristic concept, it is a contemporary necessity.
Read More Author: Adam Green Gaming Expert
Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education