Is Your Surveillance Solution Cyber-Secure?

When protecting people, places and assets, physical security naturally takes priority – such as cameras, alarms, and access control. But as security and surveillance systems become more connected and integrated with the wider world, cyber security is just as critical.

Organisations are also increasingly expected to evidence how well protected their systems are against cyber threats – particularly where recognised assurance standards and certifications such as CAPSS apply.

For security leaders, the question is no longer whether cyber security should be part of surveillance strategy, but how well protected their systems actually are.

Below are six essential steps organisations should prioritise to strengthen the cyber resilience of their surveillance infrastructure.

1. Start with secure configuration and system hygiene

Your security and IT teams will already implement standard network protections such as multi-layered firewalls, intrusion detection systems and virus scanners. These controls are essential.

However, cyber resilience should not rely solely on perimeter defences. Look for surveillance software with built-in frameworks that guide secure configuration – assessing password strength, encryption settings, account permissions and secure file-sharing controls, and automatically flagging areas that require attention.

Many cyber threats gain a foothold through accidental exposure caused by weak configurations. IP cameras and other devices are often deployed with default usernames and passwords that should be changed immediately, but are frequently not. Make sure your security and surveillance system alerts you if this is the case.

2. Extend authentication beyond users to devices

Strong password enforcement is a starting point. Many organisations use directory services such as LDAP to verify usernames and passwords against a central server, often combined with multi-factor authentication for extra protection.

However, authentication should extend beyond system users. Look for security and surveillance platforms that also verify the identity of devices attempting to connect to the network.

Servers, cameras, sensors and third-party integrations should not be trusted by default. Each authorised device should have a unique identity and authenticate using secure credentials or digital certificates before being permitted access.

This is particularly important in integrated environments where technologies from multiple vendors operate together. Without device-level authentication, a single compromised endpoint can create significant risk.

3. Enforce strict access permissions

Although not a technical cyber security measure, enforcing strict user access permissions and restrictions is an essential practical measure that should not be overlooked.

Configuring your security and surveillance system to control who can access and share sensitive data automatically is crucial to preventing data loss or breaches. Access can be configured to automatically apply according to their specific security clearance and job role. In addition, it can help to ensure you comply with data privacy regulations.

4. Encrypt data in transit

Physical heists often target goods in transit for ease of access. Cybercriminals are no different, making protecting data and communication essential.

Encryption is the answer. It ensures that data sent between authenticated devices, sensors, servers and workstations is uniquely encoded. As a result, cybercriminals will not have the encryption key to decipher the content if it is somehow accessed.

5. Improve visibility with audit logging and monitoring

Cyber resilience is not only about prevention; it includes detection and accountability.

Comprehensive audit logging enables organisations to track user activity, system changes and access events in real time. System health dashboards can provide early visibility of atypical behaviour, configuration drift and potential vulnerabilities.

These capabilities support proactive threat awareness and, if required, enable post-event forensic investigation.

Also, some security and surveillance systems embed digital watermarking within live, recorded and incident footage. While not strictly a cyber defence mechanism, watermarking can act as a powerful deterrent against unauthorised sharing by clearly identifying the system owner and user associated with the footage.

6. Work with partners that take cyber security seriously

Cybersecurity is a constantly evolving landscape. New vulnerabilities, attack techniques and compliance expectations emerge regularly.

Most organisations cannot manage this challenge alone.

Strong technology partnerships help ensure your security and surveillance system evolves alongside emerging cyber threats.