What's important when choosing a security solution for Critical infrastructure?
As security experts with decades of experience in protecting critical infrastructure, we'd like to share our experiences and best practices to help you choose the best security partner and solutions for you and your organization’s needs. If you're responsible for your organization's security, you might already know some of what this blog covers.
Identifying the right solution provider:
One size does not fit all, every critical infrastructure industry is different and has unique security needs and industry standards to comply with. You should choose a provider that understands your organisation's challenges and pain points. They should work with you to tailor a security solution that is specific to your requirements and advise you on how best to achieve and implement this.
Research Providers: Look for reputable companies with expertise in critical infrastructure security, specifically within your sector. Consider their track record, customer reviews, and industry reputation.
Ask Questions: Engage with potential providers. Ask about their approach to security, certifications, and partnerships. Inquire about their capabilities. Can they provide the total solution from hardware to software and provide services such as consultation, specification project management, installation, maintenance and ongoing support?
Evaluate Solutions: It is important to compare different offerings. Look for comprehensive solutions that address cybersecurity, physical security, scalability and interoperability. Consider factors like incident response and disaster recovery.
Collaboration: Effective security involves coordinating with various stakeholders. Choose a provider that collaborates with other organizational stakeholders to ensure the system meets all regulatory compliance, has seamless implementation, and enhances collective security.
Remember, the security solution and technology partner you choose should align with your organization’s unique needs, provide robust security measures, and offer ongoing support.
Plan long-term.
The solution you buy today will likely be in place for many years. While there are elements in security solutions with shorter and longer lifetimes, the entire solution should be planned with this in mind. Stay informed about emerging security technologies and invest in solutions that can scale as your organization grows. Avoid overly rigid or narrowly focused approaches. Look for flexibility in adapting to new technologies and threat directions.
Common errors often stem from short-term planning and decisions driven solely by cost considerations which may jeopardize security and often lead to higher costs and missed long-term opportunities.
Keep the door open to future innovations.
We’re at the dawn of the Internet of Things (IoT) – where innovations and technology are evolving rapidly. ALCEA and the ASSA ABLOY group continuously develop new solutions to stay ahead of the curve.
Soon, locking elements will be able to act as a live data point, allowing your organization to benefit from real-time situational awareness, remote monitoring, and total control. Providing an additional layer of security and driving operational efficiencies.
Ensure you choose a solution that is future-proof.
One integration has many benefits.
Choose a provider with innovative technologies and an understanding of integrating solutions. Seamless integration with your current solutions and processes is essential for improving security, increasing operational efficiencies and streamlining processes, leading to cost savings over time.
Maintenance-free products. Do they really exist?
The short answer is ‘no’. All products require maintenance. Regular maintenance ensures optimal performance, extends the product’s lifespan, and prevents unexpected failures.
When choosing a security product or solution, maintenance should be considered over the whole life cycle and covering all elements of the solution. Compromising on quality often raises costs in the long term. Planned preventative maintenance is crucial in minimizing unplanned downtime and ensuring your operations run uninterrupted.
You’re not alone.
Our dedicated sector specialists and certified integration partners are happy to help you tailor a security solution that is right for you and your organization. You can contact us here.
Stay tuned for more in-depth advice in the blogs to come. In our next blog, we’ll focus on choosing the right locking solution.