Types Of Security Breaches: Physical And Digital

Cloud-based security technologies are becoming increasingly popular in the security sphere, increasing the convenience of the user experience. However, with the introduction of these new technologies comes another consideration.

Can we still treat physical and digital security as separate concepts?

Keep reading as we discuss some of the ways that physical security and cybersecurity are linked in the modern security sphere.

Top Physical And Digital Security Breach Vulnerabilities

To understand why physical and digital security might be more linked than you think, let’s explore some key vulnerabilities that affect both physical and cybersecurity.

Intrusion And Unauthorized Entry

One of the most significant vulnerabilities addressed in a physical security strategy is the potential for an unauthorized user to gain access to the building and the resources housed in that space. This is why building security managers implement access control, video security, ALPR cameras and plate recognition, and alarm systems to secure the building from the threat of intrusion.

Cyberattacks

The most significant vulnerability addressed in a cybersecurity strategy is the potential for data exposure caused by a cyberattack. Client data must be protected under GDPR compliance. Breaking this compliance could result in lengthy legal processes and significant losses. To prevent this, cybersecurity teams use firewalls, encryption, VPNs, and other digital security technologies to ensure data doesn’t fall into the hands of unauthorized persons.

Physical Security Breaches And Data Exposure

Physical security breaches don’t just affect your physical assets – they impact your digital assets, too. Your digital resources are stored in your office building or facility, server rooms, and company computers. So, if an intruder were to gain access to your facility, this could breach both physical and digital security.

Hacking Cloud-Based Physical Security Tools

Your cloud-based physical security tools aren’t impervious to cyber threats. A third party could access your cloud-based data and remote operation centers, resulting in an extreme security breach and leaving you entirely vulnerable. You must implement measures to protect your physical security data from a cyber standpoint – ensuring that your cloud-based physical security resources stay in the hands of only authorized users.

How To Merge Cyber And Physical Security To Reduce Your Exposure

If you’re looking to reduce your exposure to security threats, you need to consider cyber and physical security as relevant to one another. Below you’ll find a discussion of the best ways to develop a security strategy with cyber-physical threats in mind.

Using Physical Security To Protect Digital Resources

You must secure your server rooms to ensure that a physical security breach does not result in a data breach. To secure your server rooms, you should implement stringent security measures, such as:

• Smart door locks – securing the room from anyone who does not possess an access keycard, fob, or mobile credential.
• Video surveillance – you must document all traffic entering and exiting the room. Evidence of an incident will aid in a police investigation and insurance claim following the incident.
• Biometric authentication – to ensure that only authorized users enter this space and that no one is using stolen access credentials, you can implement biometrics like retina scanning, fingerprint scanning, and facial recognition to protect these spaces.

By implementing these best practices, you can ensure that a physical security breach does not result in a digital security breach.

Applying Cybersecurity Tools To Physical Security

When you invest in cloud-based physical security tools, you gain the convenience of remote operation features and remote security data visibility. However, should these features fall into the hands of an unauthorized person, you would be completely unprotected. To prevent this from happening, you should consult your cybersecurity team and ensure that your physical security tools are protected using firewalls, encryption, and more cybersecurity technology. Convenience should not come at the cost of security, and applying cybersecurity is essential.

Implementing All-Round Zero Trust Policies

Zero trust is an essential security policy for companies looking to eliminate the risk of internal-origin security breaches. Zero-trust implements role-based permissions that minimize your exposure to an internal security breach. Users can only access the resources they need to carry out their daily duties – and nothing further. This way, if their account becomes breached, only a limited amount of resources will become vulnerable.

The same goes for your physical security strategy. Can you assume the trustworthiness of every building user and visitor? No. So, each user in your building should receive access permissions in line with the building facilities they need to access daily. Interviewees and contractors should not be permitted to access your server rooms simply because they were allowed to enter the building. 

All-round zero trust is the best way to ensure alignment in your cyber and physical security strategies.

Summary

To improve security in the modern climate, you should no longer be housing cyber and physical security separately. Cyber-physical security threats and attacks make it incredibly difficult to separate these departments. Consider merging cyber and physical security strategies and teams to adapt your security strategy for the future.