Physical security has to adapt to a new age of internet security in 2018

The most important trend that developed in 2017 was the increasing focus on cybersecurity. As more and more devices move to the Internet of Things (IoT) model to provide added convenience and intelligence, the ability of hackers to use those devices to infiltrate systems – and the need for oversight to protect organisations – has also increased.

Another trend we saw was an increase in the number of compliance and audit requirements related to physical security. An example of this is the Payment Card Industry (PCI) standard for security having added significant new physical security controls in their last two updates, as did standards bodies in other verticals like datacentres, financial, and critical infrastructure.

Physical and internet security combine

In the new year, we expect to see more security and IT professionals joining together as the two functions continue to converge. The industry is experiencing a paradigm shift in the way surveillance and security networks are designed, implemented, and managed. In the new year, we expect to see more security and IT professionals joining together as the two functions continue to converge.

The merging of these two security avenues will make organisations stronger and more capable of managing threats from hacking and ensuring the continuing operation of physical security. Businesses and solutions that help solve physical security problems, such as eliminating “missing video evidence” and ensuring system uptime, and can protect physical security products, such as preventing IP-enabled cameras from being used by cyber-criminals, will be the big winners in 2018.

Driven by cybersecurity needs

Business is great. Highly cost-efficient and non-intrusive physical security system verification solutions, like Viakoo’s automated system verification solution, has helped to minimise system and recording downtime across a range of verticals in 2017. Many organisations are urgently driven by cybersecurity, compliance, risk, and other factors to ensure their security systems are always working as they should.

Likewise, many security integrators are being proactive in addressing these needs in working with Viakoo. Seeing end-users, integrators, and solution providers like Viakoo working in concert to solve critical physical security problems, gives us great enthusiasm for 2018.