SECURITY THREATS THAT ARE BECOMING MORE PROBLEMATIC IN 2022 AND BEYOND
Security is always evolving to thwart new threats and to maximize wellbeing. Unfortunately, crime also evolves as new technology, societal trends, and vulnerabilities come to the forefront. So, what do organizations need to watch out for in 2022 and beyond that they may not have worried about in the past?
Physical Security Breaches for Cyber Access (AKA, Insider Cyber Attacks): Most people associate cyber security threats with distant hackers hiding anonymously behind proxies and firewalls. While this is a well-known form of hacking, we have more recently been seeing hacks originate from within an organization as physical security threats. With the enhanced cyber security measures that organizations have been taking, it's not surprising that asolution hackers have found is to getget access directly within an organization by getting hired or other similar means. Essentially, this means becoming a “mole” to reduce or bypass the cyber barriers that would otherwise deter them. This type of threat highlights the need for better background checks and screening from employers, especially those who would be a target for cyber attacks. Additionally, providing additional barriers to access even within an organization can help prevent cyber breaches that originate from physical security gaps.
Weaponizing Supply Chain Fragility: By this point, many people have learned hard lessons about how fragile supply chains can fail, causing a scramble to find adequate replacements. While this isn’t a traditional security threat, it is a legitimate threat to any business’s wellbeing. While many supply chain failures occur by accident, during a period of heightened global tensions, we have seen how global politics can damage supply chain operations. For businesses, the name of the game now is to diversify supply chains so disruption from one source can’t cripple a business. Alternatively, some businesses have found ways to more efficiently vertically integrate, bypassing supply chain risk and potentially increasing efficiency.
Access Control Breaches: Preventing access to key areas is an important focal point of security protocols. But criminals are getting craftier, and with many organizations using entry measures like fobs or passwords, it’s not difficult to bypass these measures. Fobs can be easily stolen off employees, causing a major vulnerability. Additionally, passwords are easily given out. The important thing to consider is that traditional access control devices aren’t great at preventing human error from providing access to unwanted entrants. We suggest considering biometric access control devices as we move into the future. Biometric access entry cannot be stolen or given away, so it’s a far more reliable way to prevent access, and can make entry easier for those who have been granted access.
Disconnected Cyber and Physical Security Departments: With the line of what is or isn’t a cyber attack blurring, we find it more important for cyber and physical security departments to be on the same page. Whether that means sharing entry attempts, failed cyber breaches or other suspicious activity around a property, it’s important for security departments to be on the same page by having a shared master plan. A failed cyber attack could easily turn into an attempt of physical entry. On the other hand, failed physical entry may cause a determined criminal to turn to cyber access.
Intellectual Property Theft Risk: Intellectual property is frequently overlooked when it comes to protection and security protocols. While intellectual property isn’t typically the target of petty theft, it can be a prime target for sabotage, or theft from potential competitors near and far away. Since intellectual property can include both physical and non-physical goods, it’s important to incorporate physical barriers as well as access control measures to safeguard your protected assets. Additionally, it’s best to coordinate IP theft measures with a comprehensive security plan that can help cover all vulnerabilities within an organization.
