Facilities Teams and Cybersecurity

As facilities increasingly rely on smart technologies, they become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. Facilities teams must proactively defend against these risks, as hackers can exploit system vulnerabilities like temperature control apps, building automation systems, loT devices, and other systems.

Strengthening physical security is a key step. Teams should ensure mechanical rooms and facilities spaces are secured with locked doors. Advanced systems like keycard access, biometric scanners, and visitor management tools can further restrict entry to sensitive areas, protecting both physical and digital infrastructure. Monitoring and surveillance systems are crucial. High-quality cameras should be placed throughout the facility, particularly in areas containing critical infrastructure, to detect suspicious activity.

On the network side, facilities teams must collaborate with IT to segment building management systems and operational technology from the corporate network, reducing the spread of breaches. Additionally, many systems use default passwords, a vulnerability hackers frequently exploit. Changing these default settings is important.

Cloud solutions like ARC Facilities offer a layer of protection by separating building management systems from local networks, ensuring facilities teams can continue managing buildings even if a cyberattack compromises the primary network. Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility and facilities teams play a vital role in protecting organizations by integrating both physical and digital security measures.

Cybersecurity Checklist for Facilities Teams

• Lock doors to mechanical rooms and other spaces to strengthen security
• Collaborate with IT to segment building management systems and operational technology from the corporate network to reducing the spread of breaches
• Change default passwords

Cloud solutions like ARC Facilities offer a layer of protection by separating building management systems from local networks, ensuring facilities teams can continue managing buildings even if a cyberattack compromises the primary network. Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility and facilities teams play a vital role in protecting organizations by integrating both physical and digital security measures.