Cyber-defence challenges cannot be ignored, says DVTEL

Cybersecurity has been getting much more attention lately in the physical security market. One company ready to address cybersecurity of IP video products is DVTEL. The Israeli company’s roots in IT and networking make it a logical choice to take a lead in cyber-defence of IP video systems. DVTEL’s core research and development (R&D) in Israel includes cyber-defence expertise.

DVTEL’s cyber-defence plan

In fact, DVTEL is moving fast to implement its cyber-defence plan – which it calls the IP-mmune Cyber-Defense Suite – throughout its product line. Cyber-defence is a requirement as basic (and as necessary) as a computer password, says Yoav Stern, DVTEL’s President and CEO. “We decided to take the initiative,” he says. (Stern prefers the term cyber-defence; he says there’s no such thing as “cyber-secure” – it’s an ongoing process.)

IP-mmune is composed of several existing technologies from the IT world, which have been adapted specifically to the video environment, addressing needs such as the requirement to maintain fast data speeds to achieve real-time video. Technologies include port scanning and password-protected gate blockers throughout the system, and a "sand box” in the client software protects the main system from viruses. Additional cyber-defence enhancements will include video encryption and stringent measures related to cloud and wireless components.

Slow implementation of cybersecurity

Cyber-defence has been a priority in the IT arena for decades, says Stern, and now is the time for physical security to catch up. “For 27 years, cyber-defence has been the environment where you operate in the IT world,” says Stern. In contrast, analogue video, and even IP systems that were self-contained and only involved recording and real-time video transmission, were mostly immune to concerns about cybersecurity, so it was ignored. Also contributing to slower implementation of cybersecurity in video systems has been the industry’s single-minded mission to expand functionality and increase performance. “The whole industry, including the channel, are ex-analogue people,” adds Stern.

In fact, the overarching emphasis in the market has been on developing systems, processes and applications for IP video. Addressing the cyber-defence aspect requires a completely different skillset, and improving cyber-defence has even historically been seen as detrimental to system performance. “Performance and real-time video depend on free passage through firewalls,” says Stern.

Risks with cybersecurity

However, as video systems have merged into enterprise networks, the cybersecurity dangers have heightened. Today, says Stern, “IP video is a black hole that could suck bad elements into the IT systems.”

Lack of cybersecurity has also historically been an obstacle to inclusion of video on enterprise networks. Much-discussed concerns about video being a “bandwidth hog” have mostly overshadowed the other, equally daunting obstacle, which is that systems have not been safe and secure from cyber-attacks.

So what makes this the right time to take on cyber-defence? Not only are networks converging, but video is also being used in new ways that demand that it be accessible throughout the enterprise, says Stern. To meet the huge demand on the horizon for wireless and mobile systems, the market must get its act together related to cyber-defence, he adds.

Cyber-defence is a new requirement in today’s market, not a selling point or feature but a critical element of the environment where systems today operate, says Stern. “IT will take over, and if security wants to keep control of their business, they need to be able to tell the IT people that nothing can leak from the IP video environment, that it is protected.”

DVTEL plans to implement IP-mmune in existing systems

In addition to being installed on all systems moving forward, DVTEL says the IP-mmune suite could be implemented on existing systems, based on response in the market.

IP-mmune will be maintained through the cloud, as part of DVTEL’s cloud services that measure and manage the health of video systems, including system audits. DVTEL cloud services will remotely identify problems, send alerts and provide analysis.

DVTEL United VMS 7.0 for ISC West 2015

At ISC West, DVTEL is releasing United VMS 7.0, which can tie together any existing or new Latitude, Horizon and/or Meridian VMS systems into a unified whole with a new user interface. Also introduced will be a new Command and Control (CC) web and mobile client. Sleek, modern design approximate the user experience of a mobile app, including use of drag and pinch and browsing with a finger, basically mimicking the intuitive experience of using a smart phone.

The company will also emphasise its cutting-edge technology at the network edge, including Quasar Quad HD cameras, and 4K Certified Solutions. “We are moving to one scalable system that is cloud-based and can scale to any size,” Stern says.