Many business owners think of cybersecurity and physical security as two distinct disciplines, but they have become interconnected over the years. For instance, you cannot protect your data systems if criminals can easily steal equipment from your workplace. Similarly, digital breaches can impact your physical security efforts when intruders hack into door locks or surveillance cameras. 

Today, physical security firms should invest in their cybersecurity strategies. This article will discuss how connected these security branches are and how the former will benefit from the latter. Read on to discover how to elevate your approach to modern-day security. 

Traditional Security Systems

In today's digital world, you'll hardly see businesses running without a cyber-physical system (CPS). However, this was not always the case. 

Traditionally, physical techniques involved detached security functions like access control, security personnel, and surveillance. Organizations of all sizes and industries never had to worry about linking their devices to their information technology (IT) systems. 

However, as more and more applications choose mobile or cloud-based solutions, it's almost impossible to become compliant without integrating your physical and digital strategies. After all, it would be challenging for one of them to survive if the other fails. 

How Connected Are Physical Security and Cybersecurity?

Nowadays, security firms should be up-to-date with their cybersecurity knowledge because of the growing list of hybrid attacks, like the examples below. Read on to discover just how connected physical security and cybersecurity are.

Cyberattacks on Physical Systems

In March of 2021, cybercriminals attacked over 150,000 cloud-based physical security cameras. They accessed footage from various locations, including schools, hospitals, offices, police stations, and jails. Later, the culprits gained information about access card usage in the hospital rooms. 

Physical Systems Used on Cyberattacks 

In October of 2016, a group of teen scammers used CCTV cameras to infect internet of things (IoT) devices. The botnet resulted in a massive distributed denial of services (DDoS) attack that left most of the East Coast without internet access for about two hours.

Physical Security of Cyber-Systems

In April of 2017, a thief broke into the car of a Lifespan Corporation employee and stole a laptop inside. It contained confidential information like patient names, medical record numbers, addresses, and medication details. Unfortunately, it was unencrypted and was never recovered. 

This is why physical security firms should not focus on physical security alone. It's time to develop comprehensive strategies that include cybersecurity as well; you can't effectively have one without the other.

Benefits of Increased Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity efforts offer companies — including physical security firms — many benefits. Check out some of the most notable ones below. 

Protection Against External Threats

The internet has been a game-changer for the business sector. However, as long as you're connected to it, you're vulnerable to external threats like malware, phishing, and password attacks.

Recent cybercrime statistics reveal that an attack costs businesses an average of $3.86 million and that the cybercrime industry may reach $20 billion by 2025. If you want to protect yourself from such breaches without unplugging entirely, cybersecurity is the only thing that can help.

Protection Against Internal Threats

Sometimes, threats against your organization don't come from strangers but disgruntled employees, suppliers, or even trusted partners. Whether these acts are intentional or not, the human factor remains the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain.

Remote and hybrid work systems fuel such threats. However, with the proper security measures, you can prevent costly incidents.

Compliance With Regulations

As physical security experts, it's essential to understand clients' digital risks to protect them better. Regulatory bodies, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS, acknowledge that even under-regulated industries should find ways to protect their customers. 

Boosted Productivity

Companies are responsible for every employee's well-being. Without cybersecurity solutions on your side, you put your team at risk of attacks. However, once you invest in protection devices and tools, you empower your employees to perform their tasks well without endangering the firm's privacy.

Functional Website

A website is one of the most powerful digital assets you can own. Once it becomes compromised, you might have to shut it down, hopefully only temporarily. In addition to losing revenue from missed transactions, you might also put your clients at risk of personal data theft, compromising their banking information and email addresses.

Enhance Your Cybersecurity Techniques Now

So, do you now understand how cybersecurity and physical security go hand in hand? Traditionally, these two disciplines would work separately, but in today's digital world, they've become fully interconnected. 

If you want your physical security firm to thrive, learning how cybersecurity impacts the industry is essential. Join the Thinkcurity community now to learn the latest developments in security worldwide. We offer a goldmine of valuable, up-to-date information you wouldn't want to miss.