Special Feature: Smart Buildings & Access Control
d e t e k t o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l · 2 9
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2021-08-23 11:12 AM
2021-08-23 11:12 AM
"Smart buildings a paradise for hackers"
Funding in the smart buildings sector is at an all-time
high as the first half of 2021 shows deal values of
over 5.1 billion dollars. There is no doubt it is a grow-
ing market but at the same time, buying connected
technology for use within buildings without properly
considering the issue of cyber security is a major con-
cern, according to Memoori.
"Before the IoT revolution, most
buildings' systems tended to
be self-contained and therefore
safe from hackers. This began to
change with the introduction of
remote management via perma-
nently connected smart sensors.
In the past, it was an afterthought.
You get Norton 360 and then
you move on", says Nick Morgan,
Information Security Manager
at property investor Derwent
London.
A new report from Memoori
The report from Memoori suggests
that organisations are buying
connected technology without
properly considering the issue of
cyber security, even though execu-
tives usually are well aware of the
risks involved.
"We know that cyber attacks
can lead to massive financial and
reputational damage, but we still
purchase and integrate vulnerable
technology. The obvious conclusion
to draw from these truths is that cy-
ber security is not that important,
at least not to purchasing deci-
sions", says James McHale, founder
and CEO of Memoori.
All IoT devices
are entry points
William Newton, president and
MD of Wiredscore, a firm provid-
ing digital infrastructure certifica-
tion for buildings, says: "All IoT
devices present possible entry
points for hackers. Letting any
one of these go unprotected is the
digital equivalent of leaving a small
window open downstairs when
you leave the premises. Everything
that's linked to your network
from lighting to the CCTV system
to the elevators needs to be sub-
ject to the same stringent security
protocols as databases containing
confidential information."
James McHale thinks that
the smart buildings industry has
created a paradise for hackers to
steal information, maliciously
control systems, and cripple entire
networks, often with relative ease:
"How long can we blame our cyber
security problems in buildings on
the rapid proliferation of tech-
nology before we realise that we
are the ones driving that digital
transformation? How long can we
complain about cyber-attacks when
we are the ones installing the door
and leaving it open", he concludes.
We know that cyber attacks can lead
to massive financial and reputational
damage, but we still purchase and integrate
vulnerable technology."
James McHale, founder and CEO of
Memoori.