Maintain system health with automation and security by design

Cybercrime is accelerating faster than ever. Today, one missed software update or lost camera connection could lead to bigger organizational threats.

Maintaining cyber resilience isn’t always an easy ask for your busy team. Using a health monitoring system, addressing vulnerabilities, and handling updates are just a few tasks on their long list of to-dos.

Using a System Availability Monitor (SAM) and the Genetec Update Service (GUS) can help. These health monitoring tools are embedded with automation and security by design, no matter how many systems you’re managing and maintaining.

Keep reading to learn how SAM and GUS can support system security and operations, even when your team’s days fill up with other priorities.

 

 

Meet SAM and GUS

Let's say SAM, the System Availability Monitor, was your colleague. They’d be the one monitoring the status and health of each individual component within your system. That means as soon as a camera would go offline, SAM would let you know about it.

If GUS, the Genetec Update Service, was your co-worker, they’d be the person keeping tabs on all the new product updates. That way if new features or fixes were being released, GUS would advise you that it’s time for a system update. 

Although SAM and GUS are not actual people, they are two highly effective resources available to you. As a Security Center user, you get GUS as a built-in tool. If you have an active Genetec software maintenance agreement, you'll also get access to SAM.

See everything on one health monitoring system dashboard

What if you could easily monitor and assess your system health in one place—all from within the platform you’re already managing and maintaining? 

Our System Availability Monitor automatically collects health information from your various systems and devices. It then delivers that data to you through an intuitive web-based dashboard in real-time.  

 

 

Using this system health monitoring dashboard, you can quickly see whether your systems are working optimally. The latest incidents will be brought to your attention, so you can act before your security operations are affected. You can also track system metrics like uptime, downtime, and mean-time-to-recovery for each server role, camera, or reader. This helps you to spot recurring issues and better plan your maintenance tasks.

 

 

Minimize security gaps with automatic updates

Did you know that only 30% of deployed cameras use the latest firmware? With hundreds or sometimes thousands of system components and a continuous flow of new firmware and software releases, it can be difficult for your team to keep up. 

Using the Genetec Update Service, your team no longer needs to manually track and deploy updates for your Security Center system. Whether updates are for Security Center, Windows, or select cameras and access control devices, they’re all shown on a list in the Config Tool.  

From there, you can quickly select which updates you’d like to download. Then, GUS will push them to your server and devices when they’re ready.  

The best part is that GUS was designed with security in mind, using various techniques to ensure there’s a secure connection to your system. And since you no longer need to set up separate update services for your system components, you reduce your system’s attack surface.

 

 

What is security by design?

Security by design is a development approach where a system’s network of technology is secured from the very start. 

Here, the technology provider includes cybersecurity best practices in the design and build of the solution. They also deliver a host of health monitoring tools and data protection features baked into the software. Where possible, these are enabled by default or easily accessible to users.  

Automation is also a key component of a system that is secure by design. By streamlining tasks, teams can be proactive in identifying and mitigating issues before they lead to bigger problems.   

Both SAM and GUS are built with the principles of security by design. So, while these tools help your team work more efficiently in maintaining system health and performance, they also strengthen your cyber resilience.  

Learn more about SAM and GUS

Today, a robust cybersecurity strategy requires your team to check system health and handle updates around the clock. But who has time for that?

Download the System Availability Monitor and Genetec Update Service features notes below. And start getting greater automation and security by design across all your maintenance tasks.