Cybersecurity is not enough

1 March 2019 Information Security

Cyberattacks targeting IoT devices and consequently video systems as well are growing more frequent at an unprecedented rate. The things users should consider in their security strategy are highlighted in an information package from the Regensburg-based video equipment manufacturer with information and specific recommended measures. They show that the essential aspects extend beyond the classic instruments of cybersecurity.

Security specialists at many banks in several different countries were undoubtedly completely blindsided in 2013 when Russian hacker groups stole a sum totalling more than a hundred million euros in the course of the Carbanak campaign.

In these attacks, surveillance cameras inside the financial institutions were compromised, allowing the perpetrators to secretly view screen contents and keyboard entries and identify employees as spear phishing targets from their name tags or employee IDs, for example. Video systems also make excellent targets in Denial-of-Service attacks, as was demonstrated by the infamous Mirai and Persirai campaigns.

From planning to trust in the manufacturer

If a company wants to protect itself successfully from attacks of this kind, it is essential to implement a fully comprehensive strategy. Dallmeier identifies five crucial aspects which must function in harmony: consideration of security issues as early as the planning phase, integration in the IT strategy, cybersecurity functions in the systems, data protection, and the credibility of the manufacturer.

Due consideration of security questions should be included in the planning stage, for example by intelligent use of 3D technology. Secondly, it is important to ensure that the planned system is consistent with the company's IT strategy: More and more often, essential resources such as server capacities, or even the entire video security system fall within the purview of the IT department.

For the actual core function of cybersecurity, it is important that systems are equipped with all the requisite IT security functions, from hardened operating systems to capabilities for separating networks and up to and including encryption technologies and attack detection capabilities.

The fourth aspect should really be practically self-evident since GDPR came into effect, that is to say consideration of data protection issues. Finally, customers should also think very carefully about the manufacturer itself: What steps are taken to safeguard the systems during development and production, is the manufacturer potentially exposed to political pressure, and what provisions are made for security aspects when integrating the systems with each other and integrating third party systems?

The manufacturer's information package is intended to provide answers to these and other questions and with a Best Practice Guide, offers an extensive collection of practical tips and configuration notes for IT and security officers and administrators.

Those who are interested can find the information package by following this link: https://www.dallmeier.com/ls/cybersecurity





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