Page 48 - Security Today, July/August 2022

Protecting the
Infrastructure
A unified approach requires technology and organizational culture By Greg Kemper
Critical infrastructure facilities can be quite large, so protecting them is a complex challenge that demands multifaceted solutions. Robust, cyberse- cure technology solutions exist to protect facilities of all sizes and types but getting the most out of these solutions requires attention to the human element as well. Communication between departments, training and development of standard operating procedures and interdisciplinary data col- lection and analysis are all key components. The right technol- ogy, procedures, and processes can help you catch mistakes more quickly and limit or prevent vulnerabilities introduced by em- ployees, visitors or contractors.
It may sometimes feel like IT teams are from Mars and facilities teams is from Venus, but getting all stakeholders in the same room can reveal common ground. By harmonizing security system con- trols, data, and analytics within one unified platform, everyone can have access to the same information via the same intuitive visual in- terface. This makes it much easier to get everyone on the same page.
Interdepartmental coordination is key. Security teams, facili- ties managers, and IT departments often operate independently and may have their own unique workplace culture that defines
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how they make decisions, communicate, and solve problems. Yet when these groups operate in silos, things slip through the cracks.
UNIFY SECURITY SYSTEMS
TO BRING SILOED TEAMS TOGETHER
Yesterday’s security solutions can’t keep up with the challenges we face today. By leveraging new, unified security software plat- forms, your critical infrastructure will be better protected, and you will gain new operational insights that can help you improve workplace safety and stay ahead of regulatory changes.
Modern security systems collect lots of data from cameras, sensors, card readers, and other hardware, and these insights are good for more than just security. Cross-referencing this data can uncover meaningful insights that can improve profitability, such as identifying underutilized spaces that could be repurposed for better use. It can also help reduce nuisance alarms, by creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) that direct the system to alert security only if three or more conditions are met.
Within the unified software platform, each team or individual can set up custom filters and dashboards to spotlight the data that matters most to their work, and easily share insights with
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JULY/AUGUST 2022 | SECURITY TODAY
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE