3 ways to improve collaboration between IT and security teams

Physical security and IT convergence has been happening for years. It started when physical security systems shifted from analog to IP. More recently, they’ve moved into the cloud. This evolution has required more collaboration between the two teams.

Although these groups have made headway in partnering up to ensure the successful implementation of new solutions, there’s still a disconnect. Differing skills, siloed priorities, and unique ways of thinking are one part of the problem. So are the technological choices that keep roles delineated and inhibit deeper levels of collaboration.  

Discover technologies that encourage stronger partnerships between your IT and physical security departments.

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The challenges of a growing IIoT ecosystem

Today, cybersecurity risks are skyrocketing. The latest physical security industry research showed that 31% of organizations were targeted by cybercriminals in 2023. In response to this, 42% increased the deployment of cybersecurity tools.

This rise in cybercrime is compounded by the surge in new Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices coming onto the network. From new cameras, card readers, and various other sensors, the networked ecosystem of physical objects is growing exponentially.

Along with this, so are the cyber risks that organizations are exposed to. If not secured or implemented properly, these new devices create potential security gaps and provide pathways for attackers.

And while physical security teams are experts at identifying and mitigating physical threats to the organization, IT teams know the ins and outs of keeping systems and networks secure. Both roles and skill sets are critical to securing the enterprise.

As ecosystems expand and risks evolve, leaders of organizations recognize that physical and information security need to be treated as interrelated risks. So how can they encourage greater convergence at the human level to strengthen risk mitigation and resilience?

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The opportunities for physical security data

Having all these new sensors has also enhanced data collection across organizations. And today, more organizational leaders are seeing the potential for physical security data to serve broader organizational goals.

For instance, many organizations are using physical security data to track occupancy levels and learn how people move through their facilities. Using that information, they can make improvements to their spaces and services to enhance the employee and visitor experience.

The collected data can also help teams identify gaps in security processes. They can then take steps to enhance response procedures or strengthen corporate asset protection.

But there are bigger plans in play. New or already established Security Operations (SecOps) groups within IT teams are taking data pooling and optimization to the next level. A recent survey confirmed that about 55% of IT and 47% of SecOps have access to physical security data. These teams aren’t only looking to identify enterprise-wide risks but also opportunities for operational efficiency and growth.

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3 technologies that help enhance IT and physical security collaboration

Joining up IT and physical security skills isn’t an easy task. But having the right technologies in place can encourage greater collaboration between these teams. Below are a few technology-minded solutions that can help formalize the convergence:

  Unify security systems

Having a unified platform means your physical security and IT teams can see potential risks across your systems and sites. Access cameras, door readers, intrusion sensors, and much more from one intuitive interface. This helps to manage incidents, run investigations, and oversee all security policies.

Within one platform, IT experts can have a comprehensive view of real-time risks. They can also implement a single data protection and privacy strategy across all locations. Built-in cybersecurity tools help to standardize encryptions, multi-factor authentications, user privileges, and much more across the enterprise.

Both physical security and IT can use health monitoring tools to spot real-time vulnerabilities, maintain system health, and schedule critical firmware and software updates.

Having one shared view of physical and cybersecurity keeps everyone on the same page. They can then work together to protect the organization from all types of threats. 

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  Implement cloud services

Choosing a cloud or hybrid-cloud deployment can enable greater physical security and IT convergence. And in the physical security industry, cloud adoption is only accelerating. Today, 44% of end users indicated that over a quarter of their physical security environments are cloud or hybrid-cloud. That’s a 20% increase from the previous year.

On the one hand, implementing cloud solutions takes the burden off your IT and physical security staff to keep systems running well and protected against risks. That’s because there’s no longer a need to procure and manage servers. Also, everything from device firmware and software patches to other critical security data is automatically pushed to the system.

Cloud services can also help you launch new applications or get more from the data you’re collecting. For instance, you can try new cloud services that help your teams easily and securely share video or information between departments. You can also deploy services that help you better manage employee credentials, temporary access requests, and visitor management across your sites.

Implementing cloud-based systems isn’t only a huge time-saver, but helps streamline processes and open up new opportunities for IT and physical security to work together.

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  Take advantage of analytics

When you’re collecting so much data, it can be difficult to make sense of it all. This is where implementing analytics can help your teams.

Using video analytics, teams can spend less time trying to understand the data and more time making informed decisions. If you already have a video management system, why not add people counting analytics to track how many people are in your buildings and see how they move through your spaces? This can help you determine when certain areas reach maximum thresholds and give you insights about overcrowded buildings so that you can optimize the flow of people in the future.

You can also use analytics to know when customer lines have gotten too long. This allows you to add more staff to fulfill demands and improve the guest experience.

 

Your teams can also use license plate recognition analytics to collect more data on vehicles coming onto your property. The system can then flag vehicles that are sitting in no-parking zones, or moving in the wrong direction. Your team can query the system to see when the busiest days and times are, or even spot patterns that require parking facility improvements.

Analytics helps your teams mine through all the collected data to uncover valuable insights. This makes it easier to see what’s happening across your environment so you can optimize operations in new ways.

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How to merge IT and physical security skills

Unification, cloud, and analytics can help catalyze greater convergence between IT and physical security. But it doesn’t end there. There are human elements that need to be considered when trying to bridge these skill sets within an organization.