It Will Take a Village to Make the Security Industry Cyber Secure
When it comes to who is responsible for the security industry’s cyber security preparation, the correct answer is everyone: manufacturers, security integrators and dealers, consultants and end users.
In Gordon Ramsay’s latest reality TV show, “24 Hours to Hell and Back,” chef Ramsay and his team pick a failing restaurant and, over the course of 24 hours, use a combination of training, physical changes and tough love in an attempt to get them back on track and save them from themselves. The theme of every episode is teamwork and the distinct roles everyone plays from owner to head chef to server; those not pulling their weight are often asked to leave. Why talk about a cooking show? Because like these restaurants, many in the security industry have suddenly realized — almost overnight — they are in trouble when it comes to how they handle the issue of cyber security. And while they may have started out by pointing fingers at others, such as the end users or “IT,” they have now come to realize that the only way forward is teamwork and making sure each participant in the security chain plays their role to the best of their ability.
“Cyber threats can no longer be ignored,” says Morgan Harris, senior director of enterprise solutions, ADT, Boca Raton, Fla. (SDM’s 2017 Dealer of the Year). “Typically we hear about those breaches affecting millions of consumers’ personal data or financial records; but more and more we are finding common security appliances, such as in-home cameras, being subject to hackers. … Attacks are being launched through unprotected or under-protected networks that host security appliances such as IP cameras, access control card readers and even IP-enabled intrusion detection panels. The security industry has taken notice; but we are still at the beginning stages of addressing the problem.”