Page 40 - Security Today, March 2017

Thermal imaging is one of most effective intrusion detection technologies because it provides true 24/7 video surveillance, day and at night, without requiring any form of lighting.
a single IP camera is able to do the job of several analog cameras. And then there’s the flexibility and scalability, probably to great- est driver for IP camera technology. In a traditional analog set-up, each camera must be connected directly to a DVR. IP cameras on the other hand handle this more economically through the use of switches, which allow cameras in close proximity to each other to be connected to a single switch, which then runs a single wire to the NVR (Network Video Recorder). This reduces the amount of cabling runs, which makes it ultimately less labor intensive, and also allows you to connect more cameras because you’re no longer limited by the
number of ports on your DVR.
Total security system replacements (from analog to IP-based)
can be expensive and time-consuming. To meet this concern, some companies are offering hybrid solutions in order to connect older analog systems to the flexibility, performance, and value of IP-based surveillance infrastructure. They also offer camera technology that operates simultaneously on both analog and digital networks. This advanced capability works across the exceptionally long cable runs that are common in industrial facilities. This way, companies have the advantage of HD surveillance without the expense and complica- tion of replacing existing coax networks. Replacement with IP-based cabling can be done in phases, allowing for graduated, cost-effective upgrades to IP-based backbones over time.
The Vulnerable IP Network
With the growing number of IP camera security networks, the need for cyber-security becomes ever more critical. The practice of cyber- defense and protecting against viruses, worms and malware has been a non-stop challenge within the IT community for the past 20 years. Conversely, with the transition from analog to IP in video surveil- lance just really beginning to pick up momentum around the mid- 2000s, protecting devices like cameras from cyber intrusions is some- thing that physical security practitioners are only beginning to wrap their head around.
However, the IP camera network is only a small part of the story. Today, entire infrastructures are communicating with each other over the network through what is commonly referred as the Internet of Things (IoT). A wide variety of sectors use connectivity and comput- ing into devices, such as gas pipelines, cars, airline engines and robots. Connected devices are estimated to be in the billions by 2020. As the IoT begins altering entire industries, threats are quickly evolving to target this extremely vulnerable new landscape. Particularly in the in- dustrial IoT the magnitude of harm now includes physical harm to people, prolonged downtime and loss of wages.
Cyber-defense for Video Surveillance
The numerous, large-scale data breaches that have impacted organi- zations across multiple vertical markets in recent years have not only
The combination of thermal imaging and video analytics enables accurate intrusion detection of people, animals and vehicles, while minimiz- ing false alarms.
highlighted the importance of safeguarding sensitive customer infor- mation, but they have also raised awareness about the vulnerability of video surveillance networks as an ever-increasing number of end users make the switch to IP.
Future-proof video surveillance systems have to take these cyber- attacks into account and build in additional functionality to with- stand the constant threat. Technologies like IP-mmune from FLIR Systems for example help protect cameras against the threat of vi- ruses and other malicious software. Specifically, IP-mmune incorpo- rates cyber defense mechanisms within the company’s video software and hardware products to help seal them off from outside attacks or to isolate them from the corporate network in the off chance they do become infected.
Defense Affects Performance
Still, the vast majority of camera manufacturers have not yet built in protection against cyber threats. The problem is that when IT safe- guards are added after the actual installation of the video surveil- lance system, then the performance of the network could be irrepa- rably damaged. What’s more, if defense in the IP video world is not going to be constructed right, it will affect performance.
IT departments have become very much aware of the vulnerabili- ty of the IP network, especially with the increasing number of devices connecting to it. IP networks are can be very inviting for hackers and producers of malware, especially if the focus of the IP applications lies on performance, speed and reliability, and not on security. More often than not, video streams get full priority in penetrating firewalls because there is not enough time to hold back that data to make sure that it’s not affected. If you stop video for even a split second, you create latency and you cannot view it in real time.
Future Challenges
The transition from analog to IP has exposed the security industry to the risks that IT departments have faced for years. As more custom- ers deploy comprehensive IP security solutions that incorporate mul- tiple edge devices and platforms, it becomes more critical to ensure end-to-end IT security throughout the physical security network.
The key challenge for the industry and utilities sectors will be not only to ensure reliable perimeter protection through the use of security cameras, but even more to deploy a cyber-defense strat- egy that protects critical customer data and as-
sets from unauthorized or malicious IT threats,
proactively identifies potential IT threats at
any point of vulnerability and prevents them
from creating damage.
Kristof Maddelein is the marketing manager at FLIR Systems.
The FLIR FC-Series ID camera is an example of a thermal camera that includes onboard video analytics.
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CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE