Cybercrime – How well is the security industry prepared?

Also in the security industry, digitalisation is progressing steadily. At the same time, the BSI’s latest situation report on IT security in Germany documents a rapid increase in cyber-criminal attacks. Two central questions arise:

• What are currently the biggest challenges in protecting against cybercrime and how well is the security industry prepared against them?
• How can manufacturers support installers in warding off cybercriminal attacks?

What are currently the biggest challenges in protecting against cybercrime and how well is the security industry prepared against them?

Probably the biggest challenge is that manufacturers and installers have to work together in order to be able to stand up to the booming cybercrime. The principles of “Privacy & Security by Design“ are well known, as are the risks posed by more and more IoT systems. With “Zero Trust“, a strategy that has been known since the nineties is now becoming increasingly important. According to the motto “Take Care in Whom You Trust!“, even well-known devices, applications and users are distrusted and comprehensive measures are taken, e.g. through individual authentication, even with supposedly trustworthy systems.

Another problem that, in my opinion, still receives far too little attention: Data protection and cybersecurity resilience in data analysis and AI. If a few barely visible adhesive strips can turn a stop sign for the vehicle camera into an 80 km/h sign, solutions must be found for this. Not to speak of actual cyberattacks on AI systems with corresponding, perhaps even undetectable manipulation of the AI system itself.

How can manufacturers support installers in warding off cybercriminal attacks?

Our specialist installers particularly appreciate two things: firstly, the manufacturer’s support with “best practice“ materials on cybersecurity topics, and secondly, “security by default“: Activating the most important security functions ex works, which significantly reduces the error rate during configuration.

Finally, I would like to take up the topic of “trust“ again. For us, this includes the topics “Made in Germany“ and the deepest possible integration of the value chain. This increases the quality in terms of cyber security and protects the customer from supporting violations of human rights elsewhere with his investment decision.

The foregoing article was first published in  > Sicherheitspraxis 1/2022