Honeywell: 71% of Facility Managers Worry About Operational Cybersecurity

ATLANTA —  Improving cybersecurity for operational technology (OT) systems ranks as one of the top priorities for surveyed facility managers over the next 12 to 18 months, according to a report released by Honeywell.

This is likely because more than 7 in 10 (71%) of surveyed facility managers consider OT cybersecurity a concern or worry. Moreover, respondents cite OT cybersecurity as the building improvement that would provide the greatest benefit to their stakeholders.

The report, “Protecting Operational Technology in Facilities from Cyber Threats: Constraints and Realities,” the third in Honeywell’s 2021 Building Trends series, introduces the challenges, priorities and assessments of surveyed facility managers in the United States, Germany and China across the education, healthcare, data center and commercial real estate industries.

The survey findings indicate that facility managers recognize the potential threat of an OT cyberattack and acknowledge the importance for building occupants.

Only 44% of respondents currently have a cybersecurity solution in place to protect their OT systems from potential threats. Furthermore, only one-third (33%) plan to invest in OT cybersecurity products over the next 12 to 18 months.

OT systems monitor, control and protect processes, equipment and operational environments. Within a building, assets such as HVAC, building management and security systems can all be entry points for bad actors if not properly protected.

“Conversations about cybersecurity often focus only on IT and safeguarding data and assets, but OT cybersecurity is just as critical when you think of the potential effects. Imagine an entire data center team being denied building access or a hospital that can’t properly manage airflow in critical areas,” says Mirel Sehic, global director cybersecurity, Honeywell Building Technologies. “A building’s OT environment should be monitored and maintained as rigorously as an IT system, but oftentimes the importance of practicing strong cyber and digital hygiene in OT systems is overlooked and underfunded.”

The survey found that more than 1 in 4 surveyed facility managers (27%) have experienced a cyber breach of their OT systems in the last 12 months, and 66% of respondents view managing OT cybersecurity as one of their most difficult responsibilities.

COVID-19, among other drivers, has prompted many respondents to adjust their near-term priorities. A majority (56%) are currently more willing to invest in safety-focused solutions (including OT cybersecurity) than they were before the onset of the pandemic.

“While the survey findings indicate that facility managers understand the importance of OT cybersecurity, they lack sufficient, consistent investments to fully protect their buildings and assets,” Sehic says. “The impact of cyber incidents can go beyond financial loss; operational and reputational damage can be equally critical, if not more so. As more building owners understand the potential effect of an OT attack on operations and infrastructure, facility managers will be in a better position to make smart buying decisions and heighten cyber resilience across OT environments.”

To download the full report, go here.

The post Honeywell: 71% of Facility Managers Worry About Operational Cybersecurity appeared first on Security Sales & Integration.



from News – Security Sales & Integration https://www.securitysales.com/research/honeywell-facility-managers-operational-cybersecurity/
via IFTTT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Total Tech Summit Puts Call Out for Top Integrators to Apply Now

Image
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Total Tech Summit announces that applications are now being accepted to attend this year’s event. Comprised of the  SSI Summit, CE Pro Summit and Commercial Integrator Summit, this year’s event will take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, Nov. 13-15. At this all-expense-paid, exclusive event, VIP guests will have the chance to sit in on industry-defining sessions, key boardroom presentations, and be able to meet one-on-one with potential vendors. Total Tech Summit brings together the best in class to share ideas, learn from others, and most importantly, accelerating the next stage of their businesses. It is the only event of its kind that bridges channels and connections by bringing together professional security, commercial AV and residential AV integrators. Another perk of the Total Tech Summit is the VIP Peer-to-Peer groups. These group conversations take place throughout the months leading up to the event and are guided by the editors of t
Read more

Evolv Technology, Pittsburgh Pirates Team Up for Fan-Friendly Ballpark Security

Image
WALTHAM, Mass.—Evolv Technology has announced its partnership with Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates, adding to the growing list of Pittsburgh, Pa. venues that have teamed up with Evolv to help keep people safe, including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. When the Pirates opened the gates at PNC Park for the 2023 MLB season in early April, all attending fans passed through Evolv’s state-of-the-art Evolv Express screening solution, which uses sensor technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to provide safer, more accurate threat detection at unprecedented volume and speed, the company states. Fans can now walk through without always having to stop or open bags, reducing long lines and allowing guests to make their way directly into the ballpark. “What continues to make PNC Park so special, aside from the physical design, is the total fan experience. That begins from the moment they walk up to our gates,” said Travis Willi
Read more

Minnesota AG Calls for Cancellation of Home Security Contracts for Alleged Fraud

STEARNS COUNTY, Minn. — Bring Me the News reports that Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison, says he’s gotten consumers in Stearns County out of home security contracts after they were misled by a door-to-door salesman. According to the report, Ellison’s office announced that home security companies Skyline Security Management and Safe Home Security have agreed to their cancel contracts with customers in and around Stearns County who purchased their systems from door-to-door salesman Gary Harvey. “Door-to-door salesmen and their employers are in the business of trust-building,” Ellison said in a statement. “They know they need to have your trust to sell you their products, particularly expensive products like security systems that are supposed to keep your home safe. When that trust is betrayed, it’s emotionally and financially painful. I appreciate Skyline and Safe Home taking the right step in canceling these contracts while my office does what we can under the law to hold M
Read more