Smart buildings are comfortable and sophisticated. However, their growing complexity has led to an increase in security risk. As building management systems gain more access points, bad actors discover more opportunities to breach your network and flood it with malicious software.
Keep reading to learn how to address security issues and limit your risk for a cyberattack.
What Is Building Management System Cybersecurity?
Smart buildings are energy efficient, scalable, and helpful. They increase connectivity by using Internet of Things (IoT) technology to improve energy management, commercial HVAC systems, and physical security. It’s tempting to install a building automation system (BAS), reap the benefits, and forget everything else. However, leaving your operating system and web applications alone without monitoring or maintenance can lead to catastrophic failure down the line.
When your BAS program is unattended for a long time, your internal network is vulnerable to any number of cyberattacks. A single coordinated attack on your building management system can compromise your network, jeopardize your security posture, and result in expensive downtime. Without proper BAS cybersecurity measures, your sensitive data is at risk.
After implementing a building management system, establishing a BAS cybersecurity program should be your priority. A well-designed strategy can reduce security risk and lower the chances of unplanned downtime.
An effective building automation security plan should:
- Establish complete device visibility
- Include tools for network vulnerability assessments
- Monitor and respond to threats
- Support seamless deployment and maintenance
How To Build a BAS Cybersecurity Strategy
A solid building management system cybersecurity plan can be repeated as many times as needed to reinforce your defenses and resolve security issues more efficiently. Follow these steps to get started:
Establish Scope and Priorities
Your organization should identify its core objectives and order its priorities. Once you understand the scale of the project and what it’ll take to see it through, making impactful and strategic decisions regarding BAS cybersecurity is easier. Evaluate how much information is stored on company computers and what’s available on the network.
Then, prioritize your most valuable equipment. Bad actors are more likely to target expensive building automation controls than less impactful resources. Understanding your most at-risk access points means you can more purposefully distribute network tools and resources like penetration tests and network vulnerability scans to prevent cyberattacks.
Consult With IT Professionals
Once you’ve defined the scope of your BAS cybersecurity project and the assets you want to protect, meet with the experts to identify the threats that apply to those systems. You need to know what to defend and what you’re defending against. Working with a professional team makes configuring and integrating security tools into your building automation strategy easier.
An IT team can identify devices that contain sensitive data to more effectively layer your network security. Strategies like network segmentation can isolate your assets and prevent cyberattacks from spreading to impact other aspects of your business. Make sure your IT team has a complete network layout and can introduce updates to your BAS without interference.
Building automation systems are often neglected. Never put off updates or maintenance. Patching BAS cybersecurity tools and web applications routinely helps you avoid security holes and prevent breaches. Coordinate patches, firewalls, and network monitoring tools for your building automation security plan.
Perform a Network Vulnerability Assessment and Develop Policies
Follow your risk management process to determine your likelihood of a web-based attack and the impact it would have. Use penetration tests and a vulnerability scanner to identify and address potential security issues before malicious users exploit them.
Logs can be used to enforce building automation security. Assigning individual accounts for BAS users and requiring records to keep track of access can help you trace the cause of a security event and prevent future cyberattacks.
Frazier Service Company Reinforces Your Building Automation Security
You don’t have to build a BAS cybersecurity plan on your own. Frazier Service Company understands smart building technology inside and out, supporting you with the security tools and maintenance services you need to ensure protection. We use the latest industry advancements like real-time system applications to automate and monitor your commercial building systems. Our platforms require minimum maintenance and are user-friendly.
You’re a true partner when you work with the Frazier Service team. We give preferred treatment for maintaining and upgrading your building automation tools. Ready to protect your network from malicious users? Reach out today.
