The average cost of a data breach in 2022 was $4.53 million. Is your business doing enough to fight against the rising data breach statistics? 

To equip your business against the modern threat climate, you must emphasize learning about security trends. Keep reading as we discuss the latest cyber and physical security trends to ensure you stay in the loop for security protection.

Merging Cyber And Physical Security Technologies

Many businesses are choosing to adopt cloud-based security technologies for their physical security strategies. However, with this technology comes an increased need for cybersecurity. You must ensure that your physical security data and remote operation features are not vulnerable in the cloud.

Physical security is extremely relevant to your cybersecurity health. You must implement physical security to protect digital assets housed in your commercial building. If you do not implement stringent physical security, you are at risk of a data breach.

For the above reasons, it becomes essential to consider your physical and cybersecurity strategies as enmeshed and linked. To ensure you account for this in your project management, you need to merge cyber and physical security. To do this, you can take several steps:

• Using cybersecurity software to protect your cloud-based physical security data. By leveraging the open API integrations of a cloud-based physical security tool, you can integrate cybersecurity software to ensure this data is secure.

• Using physical security to protect server rooms. You must ensure that your critical data and digital assets are only accessible to authorized personnel. To do this, you must consider implementing physical security, such as biometric access control and video surveillance, to protect these areas.

• Merging cyber and physical security teams. If both teams operate separately, there will become data silos between both teams. Each team needs a full perspective of how cyber and physical security threats affect each facet of security.

Many businesses are using these strategies to simultaneously mitigate the effects of security threats targeting cyber and physical security.

Hybrid Systems: On-Premise And Cloud-Based

Regarding your security strategy, you must decide whether you would like to use an on-premise or cloud-based security system. However, many businesses are now choosing hybrid systems that combine the benefits of each type of security system. To help you understand why this benefits your business, let’s discuss the benefits of each type.

Here are the benefits of a cloud-based security system:

• Providing remote management capabilities. Suppose you implement cloud-based security technologies in your business. In that case, you can control door locks, view security data, and manage security from anywhere using a mobile or cloud-based web application.
• Providing wireless connectivity. A cloud-based system allows you to do away with complex wiring infrastructure, ensuring that your security system is more manageable and scalable.
• Over-the-air updates and PSaaS. With a cloud-based system, your service provider can perform troubleshooting and system updates without visiting your site in person. This means that security maintenance becomes less costly and time-consuming.
• Open API integrations – with a cloud-based security system, you can integrate different security technologies to make information readily available on one user interface. Additionally, you can integrate the software with your system to expand its function and improve ROI on your security hardware investments.

For the above reasons, a cloud-based security system has some superior features. However, hybrid systems provide some advantages by offering the benefits of an on-premise system. Below are some of the benefits you’ll see with an on-premise security system:

• Cybersecurity safety – cybersecurity becomes irrelevant with an on-premise system, as your data is only accessible from an on-site location.
• Reliability – your on-premise elements can act as a backup should you experience any system downtime with your cloud-based security.

You can access a wholly fortified system by combining the benefits of each system type. Consider whether a hybrid system will provide more reliability and accessibility for your security strategy.

Open API Platforms For Integration

When you opt for a cloud-based security system, the open API integrations allow you to improve ROI by expanding the function of your security with software. Here are some examples of cloud-based physical security integrations:

• Video analytics – you can automate video feed monitoring for your video surveillance, ensuring that no security threats are missed. The tool uses object recognition, license plate recognition, and behavior recognition to alert your team to any potential security threats, ensuring human error does not lead to a security breach.
• Visitor management software – visitor logs are an important element in building security and evacuation procedures. Visitor management software integrates with access control to provide users with digital registration surveys as a visitor. Digitizing visitor management provides more reliability and reduces the workload for your admin and reception staff.

These are just two examples of the ways in which software integrations can completely enhance the function of your security investments.

Zero-Trust Security Strategy

Zero trust is a cybersecurity policy essential to prevent internal-origin security breaches. The policy ensures that users are not trusted based on the merit that they can access your network. Instead, the user only gains permission to access the data they need to use regularly. This way, if an employee account is breached, only a limited amount of data will be available to the hacker. 

Businesses are now recognizing that zero-trust applies to physical security, too. If you allow every building user to access your server rooms and sensitive assets, then you put yourself at risk for an internal security breach. You should establish role-based access permissions to implement zero trust for your physical security. Install intelligent door locks to protect sensitive areas and only allow only high-level employees to enter these spaces.

Increase In Technology For Hybrid And Remote Workers

The hybrid and remote work revolution is still in full swing as businesses realize the immense benefits for productivity. Security technologies are adapting for hybrid and remote work, too. Businesses are implementing security policies that ensure data is secure when stored on employee devices. 

Cybersecurity Awareness Training

Cybersecurity is an important consideration for any business – though many companies neglect to acknowledge human error as a factor. If your employees lack cybersecurity awareness, you are vulnerable. Businesses are starting to provide basic cybersecurity awareness training for employees as bring-your-own-device schemes become increasingly popular:

• Password health – employees should receive direction on the importance of creating strong and unique passwords.
• Software updates – employees should only be permitted to use devices with fully updated software to reduce vulnerabilities.
• Phishing scams – you should train your employees on the importance of only trusting verified sources with personal information.

By covering these topics, you can minimize the risk of human error compromising your cybersecurity.

Summary

The security world has changed drastically since cloud-based technologies have permeated the sphere. If you want to maintain futureproof and airtight security for your business, consider implementing these security trends. Find the vulnerabilities in your current system, and consider the emerging trends and technologies that can help you to eliminate these vulnerabilities.