Genetec research shows cyber concerns growing among physical security pros

MONTRÉAL – As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Genetec has produced new research revealing that cybersecurity remains a key concern for physical security experts.

Gathering insights from over 5,500 physical security leaders from around the world, Genetec’s research shows that while organizations are putting in place new processes to protect themselves, the level of concern about potential cyber threats continues to increase.

Responses show that close to a third (31%) of end-user respondents indicated that their organization was targeted by cyber threat actors in 2023. Data indicated that some sectors were far more affected than others, with 73% of respondents in the intelligence and national security sector and 46% in the banking and finance sector saying they were the victims of cyber-attacks compared to 21% in the retail sector.

“It is reassuring to see growing awareness of the cybersecurity of physical security systems," said Mathieu Chevalier, Principal Security Architect at Genetec Inc. "As more organizations 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.”

Cybersecurity vulnerabilities were identified by 36% of end-user respondents as a top challenge facing their organizations 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 cyber-attacks on healthcare providers in recent years,” Genetec noted.

Another key finding from the report revealed 42% of end-user respondents stating that their organizations are deploying cybersecurity-related tools in their physical security environments, up from 27% last year that said they had put in place processes to protect themselves.

To help its customers be more cyber resilient, Genetec revealed that it has developed a cybersecurity checklist: https://www.genetec.com/blog/cybersecurity.