Most companies in today’s age rely on multiple proprietary software solutions to handle physical security operations. This approach isn’t just inefficient but can also expose businesses to unnecessary cyber threats. Thankfully, there is a practical and affordable solution. Business owners and security team leaders can read on to find out what they need to know about unified security management.
What Is Unified Security?
Unified security refers to the decision to keep all of a company’s core security tools on one convenient platform. Instead of relying on separate video surveillance software, access control systems, and other vital tools to get their jobs done, security personnel will be able to rely on one specialized software program to do it all.
Why Unification Is Worth the Investment
Some business owners and corporate stakeholders assume that if nothing bad has happened, the existing amalgamation of security software and hardware must work just fine. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it is an inappropriate attitude to take toward physical security operations, as anyone with a few years of experience in the industry can attest.
The problem is that today’s physical security landscape is more complicated than ever, and the line between physical and cyber security has become blurred. Outdated equipment and software programs that are integrated at random create opportunities for cybercriminals to infiltrate networks. This, in turn, can create opportunities for data theft and ransomware attacks but also for criminals planning to infiltrate the physical structure.
Signs It’s Time to Unify
In an ideal world, all businesses would be able to protect their most valuable assets using the most sophisticated equipment and software. Unfortunately, small businesses and startups are rarely in a position to do so, and some established enterprise-level companies are set in their ways. Both of these categories of people should, however, learn how to spot the signs that it’s time to consider investing in a unified security system. They include:
- Legacy equipment integrated into modern systems
- A complex learning process for new security personnel due to multiple software programs
- Difficulty keeping track of essential data pertaining to physical security
- Potential vulnerabilities coming up during internal security audits
- Outdated surveillance and access control software
- Growing into a new space with unique security concerns
- When any of these problems is present, switching to a unified security solution will save the company money in the long run.
Benefits of Unified Security Systems
Growing companies moving into new spaces and older ones just now getting caught up to modern security concerns will find that security personnel have an easier time performing their many essential core responsibilities from one easy-to-use dashboard. New personnel will be easier to train since they will only need to learn one system, and the software will be easier to keep up to date. Plus, the cybersecurity team will benefit from a lower risk profile on their end, and the company will be less likely to experience data breaches.
Embrace Change
No business owner or team of stakeholders wants to invest money into areas of the company that don’t focus on its core competencies unless it’s truly necessary. In this case, making the change to a unified security system should be considered essential.