How unified access control and video strengthen OT cyber-physical security

As growing organisations have more physical assets interconnected within facilities in a cloud network, organised groups are increasingly carrying out cyberattacks to gain access to infrastructure through the readers, locks and barriers that protect them from damage, disruption or even the theft of sensitive information.

Reported cyberattacks in the United States have nearly quadrupled over the past decade, with last year alone seeing over a million incidents, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

One of the more concerning aspects of growing cyberattacks is the rise in physical threats against critical infrastructure and their support staff, with nearly half of last year's ransomware incidents including threats of harm or damage.

As business leaders, especially in manual industries, continue to push towards interconnectivity to improve productivity and increase organisational visibility, new avenues are emerging that individuals and groups can exploit for their own gain.

The emerging OT risks and threats resulting from more operational integration highlight the need for a more robust, scalable and unified security solution to address these vulnerabilities. Advanced access control and video can play a fundamental role in filling these cyber-physical gaps.

The role of access control and video

Traditionally, the roles of access control and video in an organisation have been to protect operational efficiency by limiting entry to sensitive areas and to enable a reactive incident response, respectively.

However, as more business infrastructure and security systems have shifted to the cloud and become more interconnected, the roles and dynamics of these devices have changed to align with rapidly evolving risks and threats.

In the current security climate, experts consider a cyber-physical security strategy vital for the year ahead. Therefore, system component roles should align with the core strategic components, including identity-centric access management, continuous threat detection and zero-trust network policies. Security planners can consider advanced access control and video security cameras to achieve that alignment.

Physical access devices, in particular, are a primary target for groups seeking to gain access to an organisation's OT to cause damage or disruption. As technologies such as key card readers and credential management databases become more ingrained in a cyber-physical security strategy, it is crucial to strengthen their resilience against growing attacks, including a more robust identification system.

Unifying access control with video will play a leading role in bolstering identification processes, offering layers that not only help verify authorisation levels but also enable proactive threat detection. Many modern cameras leverage advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) to process visual data and alert supervising personnel to any unusual activity, helping stay ahead of evolving threats.

Strengthening cyber-physical security apparatus

Understanding the key vulnerability areas can help understand why unifying access control and video can be so beneficial to enhancing OT cyber-physical security resilience. Since threat detection and incident response are reliability- and availability-based rather than confidentiality-driven, a meticulous identification system is needed to mitigate incident risk.

Advanced access control can provide biometric scanning and remote management capabilities to strengthen the authorisation and control process. AI-enabled video can provide a visual medium for verifying identities, detecting unusual behavior and processing such activity through analytics logs.

The proactive capabilities enabled by the combined technologies can be vital for strengthening OT cyber-physical security, where mitigation is the most effective tool against potential incidents. Facilities such as manufacturing plants and utilities cannot afford to remain reactive, as an attack could be highly disruptive and damaging.

The strengths of combining access control don't just come in proactive threat detection, but also with incident response capabilities. For example, if an attacker breaches OT systems in an industrial plant, they can send commands that compromise normal operational loops, potentially endangering lives and critical assets during an incident.

Such events require quick, informed decision-making to minimise their impact, where access control and video systems can alert responders to the event, providing the necessary information to take faster, more accurate action.

While even the most robust security infrastructure can't eliminate all potential incidents, technologies that enhance human safety and operational integrity can benefit the organisation by shaping more effective evacuation plans.

Building a comprehensive cyber-physical security strategy

Trends suggest that cyber-physical attacks will continue to rise in both number and complexity. As managing IT professionals integrate OT systems into a more unified network, they become more vulnerable. Organisations will need a more comprehensive strategy to protect operational efficiency.

Where robust identification has become an integral part of OT threat mitigation, implementing advanced access controls and AI-assisted video can strengthen systems and make them more resilient in the face of the rapidly evolving cyber-physical landscape.

Unifying the technologies creates qualities that can scale to needs, support decision-making, improve visibility and enhance reliability, which will be core to a security planner's strategy.

Organisations with strengthened cyber-physical security, where operations become increasingly integrated, are better positioned to mitigate risks and threats as they emerge. Unifying access control and video can be a vital step in shaping a more effective security system.

Avigilon provides easy-to-use, integrated physical security solutions for future-proof protection and safer outcomes. A leader in proactive analytics and responsibly built AI, Avigilon’s security systems enhance safety through intelligent detection and faster verification. As part of the growing Motorola Solutions safety and security ecosystem, Avigilon is constantly innovating to bring together professional-grade, scalable solutions that empower organisations with 24/7 visibility and control.

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