Physical Security in Enterprise IT: a Renaissance for Cloud-Based Security

This post originally appeared at The Var Guy

In an era where cybersecurity is at the top of every CIO’s list of business concerns, it can be easy to overlook the importance of physical security in protecting legacy hardware solutions and ensuring critical assets remain safe. But despite the lack of industry enthusiasm surrounding physical security solutions, advances in cloud technology and digital cameras have created somewhat of a renaissance in the physical security world.

From cloud-based cameras to motion detectors and even IoT-connected monitoring solutions, never have there been more options available to enterprises and consumers alike when it comes to protecting their most precious resources. Even better, many of these options are relatively simple to set up and deploy, even without a strong technology background.

New Solutions for New Problems

With the increase of targeted attacks against both virtual and physical assets, it’s only natural that the means by which we protect these resources become more advanced to prevent theft or property destruction. And while many people still think of physical surveillance solutions as a standard video camera connected to a CCTV network, the breadth and depth of available options for monitoring infrastructure and protecting hardware has changed rapidly within the past decade.

Some of the most commonly seen devices are cloud-based IP cameras, which take the old-fashioned CCTV model and add a persistent Internet connection, so data is stored in a remote database instead of in a dusty hard drive in the manager’s office. This not only allows companies to access their data from anywhere and at any time, but it also ensures that data is preserved in case of a fire, flood or other natural disaster.

IoT-connected cameras also are finding their place in the world of physical security and surveillance. Like their cloud-based brethren, these cameras store data remotely in a public or private server, but also allow users to control the pan, tilt and zoom of said devices remotely from a computer or smart phone. Currently, these devices are most commonly used for personal security in homes and in small businesses, but the rapid growth of IoT solutions is bound to make these security devices more prevalent throughout midmarket and enterprise companies.

The Rise of Cloud-Based IP Solutions

There’s no doubt cloud technology has played a critical role in the evolution of physical surveillance, especially in terms of protecting enterprise assets. But before we look at how cloud-based IP solutions have taken over the market, it’s important to understand what trends have influenced the mass migration of compute resources to the cloud in the first place.

Prior to the more widespread use of modern surveillance solutions, cameras had severe limitations, including resolution problems, limited storage and issues with light flare and, subsequently, dark areas. However, the new breed of security solutions are more like computers than traditional surveillance equipment, and feature built in solutions to compensate for such issues, said Duston Miller, founder and vice president of engineering at NDM Technologies, a Spokane, WA-based security provider.

“When we first got into it [physical surveillance] it was a lot of retrofitting existing coaxial systems into IP-based video,” said Miller. “But now it’s pretty much all IP from point to point.”

With the steady increase of reliability in cloud services over the past several years, enterprises have continued to utilize public, private and hybrid clouds to house critical customer and company data as a way of protecting it from theft or loss. Currently, about 51 percent of all compute information is housed within the cloud, as more people begin to realize the benefit of storing their information outside of the physical location, said Dean Drako, CEO and founder of Eagle Eye Networks.

“There’s an argument saying [that data] isn’t as secure in the cloud as it is onsite, and the reality is that it’s actually false. It’s actually more secure in the cloud,” said Drako. “And the reason it’s more secure in the cloud is because the cloud provider can’t afford a data breach, so they actually spend money and get the proper personnel and put the energy and focus into making sure that they are really secure.”

And despite a minimal amount of physical security data currently being stored in the cloud, customers are increasingly showing greater interest in storing their data remotely, according to a recent survey from Eagle Eye Networks. The study of 250 respondents showed about 65 percent expressed interest in some cloud recording, with only 35 percent of respondents wishing to keep their physical security data entirely on premises, Drako said.

“This actually gets me really excited because it basically expands the market for physical surveillance and provides more value than just security, and I think that’s actually great for the industry,” said Drako.