New research conducted by Genetec (‘Genetec’), a leading technology provider of unified security, public safety, operations and business intelligence solutions, has revealed that cybersecurity remains a key concern for physical security experts. Based on insights from over 5,500 physical security leaders from around the world, the research shows that while organisations are putting in place new processes to protect themselves, the level of concern about potential cyberthreats continues to increase.
Close to a third (31%) of end-user respondents indicated that their organisation was targeted by cyberthreat actors in 2023. Some sectors were far more affected than others. A grand total of 73% of respondents in the intelligence and national security sector and 46% in the banking and finance sector said that they were the victims of cyberattacks compared 21% in the retail sector.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities were identified by 36% of end-user respondents as a top challenge facing their organisations in 2023. In the healthcare sector, cybersecurity vulnerabilities were identified by a higher percentage of respondents than any other challenge (43%). This is perhaps not surprising considering the high-profile cyberattacks on healthcare providers in recent years.
Organisations are being more proactive than ever, with 42% of end-user respondents indicating that their organisations are deploying cybersecurity-related tools in their physical security environments. This is a significant increase compared to last year when only 27% said they had put in place processes to protect themselves.
“It is reassuring to see growing awareness of the cybersecurity of physical security systems,” said Mathieu Chevalier, Principal Security Architect at Genetec. “As more organisations look to implement enhanced cybersecurity measures, they need to look for manufacturers who are committed to cybersecurity and building tools that help them streamline the maintenance and updates of their systems.”
