Ryan Schonfeld, Founder & CEO of HiveWatch tells SJA why the security industry will increasingly turn to cloud-based systems.
The typical definition is anything that involves hosted services over the internet.
In physical security, cloud-based systems enable organizations to monitor the health of individual solutions like access control readers, intrusion or fire alarms, video surveillance cameras or field alerts and respond accordingly.
The cloud connectivity makes it possible for physical security teams to also keep systems up-to-date to address vulnerabilities without downtime.
A cloud-based system does not mean there’s not a physical or “on-prem” component that connects to the cloud.
Solutions that aren’t reliant on on-premise hardware or software to function properly allow organizations to more seamlessly scale operations as needs change.
Cybersecurity is another big factor in why cloud-based systems are the way forward for the industry.
Most cloud providers meet rigorous redundancy requirements and provide well-architected cloud security measures that take some of the pressure off internal IT teams to reduce cyber-risk.
The companies that host cloud systems are generally responsible for the maintenance, patching and upkeep.
Historically, on-premise systems are much harder and slower to update and provide patching/maintenance too.
Additionally, cloud-based security software that gives organizations the ability to access and control camera systems, monitor video feeds, conduct maintenance tasks, evaluate system health and perform updates to firmware/software from remote locations have been identified as must-haves for maturing security organizations.
In the past, many physical security teams were hesitant to adopt these kinds of solutions, but as the benefits have continued to be realized, cloud discussions are easier to have.
In many organizations, physical security is one of the last adopters of cloud systems.
More simply, cloud-based systems are known for:
The cloud is reachable via internet access, from anywhere you can sign in, with many security solutions able to be controlled and managed through a computer browser or mobile device.
Access is not limited to on-site locations and security personnel can manage solutions from anywhere, offering more flexibility and scalability.
Moving backend applications to the cloud means the potential for better utilizing physical locations.
Dedicated sites for security housing racks, cooling systems and power hookups can be reduced and repurposed for other uses, giving companies the chance to mindfully maximize their network real estate.
Cyber-crime is a threat when the access to security systems can be done through the internet.
Cloud architecture suppliers, however, know the threats to cybersecurity and should follow best practices to mitigate risk.
Updates, patches and system fixes are kept up-to-date and done automatically, as opposed to waiting for manual updates on most on-premise security systems.
This could have the potential to make cloud systems more secure, since they are updated on time to keep up with the latest security risks.
Cloud-based systems tend to be more secure for several reasons.
First, data encryption facilitates communication between devices without compromising the data being shared.
Second, security updates or product fixes for known vulnerabilities can be automatically updated so your organization has the most secure version of the software at all times.
Finally, cloud-based solutions require less on-premise hardware components, which means less risk overall and more resiliency.
It also helps small teams manage bigger global systems.
Without all the legacy infrastructure required to run on-premise, a single person department can effectively manage a global system without dedicated resources.
HiveWatch was designed to simplify security operations management and we do that through a cloud-based platform that takes the complexity out of a security operator’s day-to-day functions.
As a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, we are cloud-first and that allows us to create a product that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our customers and the industry.
We can push updates and new features as soon as they’re available – and without having to update individual pieces of software residing in on-premise configurations.
This creates more value for customers and ultimately the entire business.
HiveWatch’s entire product portfolio is cloud-based: the HiveWatch GSOC Operating System (OS) and Command Center are SaaS products that were designed to be fully cloud-dependent.
We’ve dubbed ourselves the “operating system for physical security”, centralized around making security teams more efficient and empowered using data to drive decision-making.
HiveWatch’s portfolio solves some of the physical security industry’s biggest and most frustrating challenges including false alarms, tailgating, integration of disparate security technologies, lack of data and analytics and operational inefficiencies.
Similar to how analog cameras shifted to networked devices, on-premise servers and systems will become a thing of the past (and in many industries, already are).
For a long time, large enterprise organizations were resistant to cloud-based solutions for cybersecurity reasons, but as cloud providers continue to be the gold standard for cybersecurity protections, the adoption rate will grow.
This will include physical security SaaS platforms aimed at providing a scalable option for continued growth.
The security industry has an interoperability problem.
So many companies sell proprietary technology – whether it’s hardware or software – that keep companies invested in a singular manufacturer and don’t allow for flexibility or scalability.
Cloud-based systems – and more specifically, those that are vendor agnostic – provide the security industry with a way to help modern organizations invest in advanced technologies without having to entirely rip and replace existing legacy systems.
This article was originally published in the March edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.