Release of the October 2024 Safeguards Consulting Chronicle

We are proud to share that we recently released the September issue of our firm's monthly newsletter, The Safeguards Consulting Chronicle. This year, we are celebrating its first anniversary and our firm’s 14th anniversary, and we would love to invite you to subscribe for free in honor of both!   

Our newsletter covers numerous industry events, news, and updates.  

Some of the items we included in our September issue was:    

+ A featured friend spotlight piece on the Security Industry Association (SIA).    

+ An exclusive article written by our Founder, “Critical for Convergence - Identity and Access Management”.  

+ A message from our firm about National Security Officer Appreciation Week. 

+ A list of beneficial industry events, that includes events we are supporting/speaking at, as well as other events we recommend attending.    

+ Our list of useful blog articles.     

+ A selection of key industry news and updates.     

+ A quick industry tip as provided by our experts.     

 If interested, please subscribe using the hyperlink included below.    

Newsletter Signup — Safeguards Consulting, Inc.    

If you subscribe to our free newsletter, you gain access to all the exclusive security content mentioned above as well as additional content we hope will help you in your role as a security professional. It is also a wonderful way for my firm to stay in contact with you regarding company news, updates, or events so please consider subscribing in time for our October issue!    

Release of the July 2024 Safeguards Consulting Chronicle

We are proud to share that we recently released the June issue of our firm's monthly newsletter, The Safeguards Consulting Chronicle. This year, we are celebrating its first anniversary and our firm’s 14th anniversary, and we would love to invite you to subscribe for free in honor of both!   

Our newsletter covers numerous industry events, news, and updates.  

Some of the items we included in our June issue were:    

+ A client spotlight piece on Bladen County Schools.    

+ A special sneak peek at our upcoming blog post “Understanding the Basics of Cyber Hardening for Physical Security Systems”.    

+ A list of beneficial industry events, including events we are supporting/speaking at and other events we recommend attending.    

+ Our list of useful blog articles.     

+ A selection of key industry news and updates.     

+ A quick industry tip as provided by our experts.    

If interested, please subscribe using the hyperlink included below.    

Newsletter Signup — Safeguards Consulting, Inc.    

If you subscribe to our free newsletter, you gain access to all the exclusive security content mentioned above as well as additional content we hope will help you in your role as a security professional. It is also a wonderful way for my firm to stay in contact with you regarding company news, updates, or events so please consider subscribing in time for our July issue!    

Understanding the Basics of Cyber Hardening for Physical Security Systems

Physical security systems have been an important part of our everyday technology for a long time, and they continue to evolve. Traditional security methods have evolved over time into sophisticated digital networks that control access, monitor environments, and protect assets, utilizing advanced technology such as artificial intelligence. However, for these new systems to remain effective, they must be regularly updated. This is where cyber hardening becomes vital, with the goal of fortifying physical security systems against digital threats. 

Throughout this blog post, we will explore the fundamental principles of cyber hardening for physical security systems. This essential concept provides an understanding of how to effectively defend against cyber intrusions, as well as best practices for implementing hardening measures. 

What is Physical Security Hardening?  

Physical security hardening is the process of making systems, networks, and devices more resilient to cyber-attacks and unauthorized access. This includes strengthening communication protocols, authentication methods, and software components to defend against malicious actors. 

The Risks of Missing Proper Cyber Hardening Measures  

The purpose of security systems is to protect your assets and organization. However, without strong cyber-hardening measures, physical security systems become vulnerable to cyber-attacks and can serve as an unprotected entrance for criminals.  

Below are 5 examples of the real consequences of not implementing proper hardening measures: 

1. Vulnerability to Cyber Attacks - Equipment may be exposed to malware, spyware, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, or unauthorized access to sensitive data, including intellectual property. 

2. Physical Threats - Unauthorized individuals gaining physical access to the organization, theft of valuable equipment, and even acts of vandalism and sabotage. 

3. Regulatory Compliance - Some industries are subject to specific regulations and standards with the intention of protecting people’s privacy, security, and organizational assets. If you and/or your organization do not comply with these regulations, it can result in legal penalties.  

4. Reputational Damage - Any security incident, particularly those involving physical security, can harm an organization's reputation and undermine the trust of its customers, partners, and stakeholders. In addition, negative publicity can be beneficial for competitors.  

5. Safety Hazards - In some cases, inadequate security measures can pose a safety risk to employees, visitors, and the general public, interfering with emergency responses or critical industrial processes. 

5 Essential Aspects of Cyber-Hardening  

There are 5 important aspects to consider when implementing cyber-hardening controls on security systems. These 5 aspects include (1) authentication and access control, (2) encryption, (3) patch management, (4) network segmentation, and (5) incident response planning. 

1. Authentication and Access Control: This aspect serves as the gateway to our assets, so it is critical to implement strong measures. Multi-factor authentication and additional access controls ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive areas or critical systems.  

2. Encryption: This aspect is critical for data security both in transit and at rest. There are various encryption algorithms for different protocols, but identifying and implementing strong encryption methods is critical for compliance and data security. 

3. Patch Management: Effective patch management is critical for quickly addressing security vulnerabilities. Regular security updates and patches help mitigate potential exploits, making the system less vulnerable to cyber-attacks. 

4. Network Segmentation: This aspect improves protection by separating security systems from other networks. This strategy helps to prevent intruders from lateral movement and limits the impact of security. This can be used to isolate the security system network and other networks within the organization. 

5. Incident Response Planning: Developing an incident response plan entails creating strong response protocols. This plan should be tested regularly and updated as needed to ensure that cyber threats are addressed effectively while minimizing their impact on physical security systems. 

3 Best Practices to Consider Implementing   

3 additional best practices that can be implemented as part of the hardening process include (1) effective vendor management, (2) comprehensive employee awareness programs, and (3) regular security audits. 

1. Effective Vendor Management: Choosing reputable vendors who prioritize security in their products and services can be extremely beneficial and significantly reduce the risk for your organization without requiring much additional effort "right out of the box". This can be accomplished by evaluating vendor security practices and certifications, ensuring compliance with industry standards. 

2. Comprehensive Employee Awareness Programs: Another good practice is to provide a comprehensive awareness program for staff and employees. Human error remains one of the most serious vulnerabilities in any security industry, including physical security. Organizations that provide security training empower employees to recognize and respond to potential threats, giving them the skills they need to protect sensitive information and infrastructure. 

3. Regular Security Audits: Conducting regular security audits is an important component of effective cyber hardening in physical security. This enables organizations to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in their systems and take appropriate action. To accomplish this, it is critical to employ tools, methodologies, and security professionals who can assess the effectiveness of existing security controls and identify areas for improvement. 

Cyber Hardening is a Critical Safeguarding Task 

Implementing cyber hardening in physical security systems is an important task that any organization must prioritize in order to protect its critical assets and infrastructure. With the constant evolution of cyber threats, adaptation is required to ensure ongoing protection and resilience against new vulnerabilities. Physical security cyber hardening can have a significant impact on your organization's survival, therefore ensure you take the proper precautions and measures needed to ensure your cyber hardening is up to speed.  

 Meanwhile, stay tuned for more cybersecurity-related blog posts coming soon!  

- Safeguards Consulting Cyber Security Team.  

Release of the June 2024 Safeguards Consulting Chronicle

We are proud to share that we recently released the May issue of our firm's monthly newsletter, The Safeguards Consulting Chronicle. This year, we are celebrating its first anniversary and our firm’s 14th anniversary, and we would love to invite you to subscribe for free in honor of both!   

Some of the items we included in our May issue were:    

+ A client spotlight piece on Cookout.    

+ A special Memorial Day message from our firm.    

+ An exclusive article on the impact of the Mercury access controller transition by our Founder.  

+ A list of beneficial industry events, that includes events we are supporting/speaking at, as well as other events we recommend attending.    

+ Our list of useful blog articles.     

+ A selection of key industry news and updates.     

+ A quick industry tip as provided by our experts.    

If interested, please subscribe using the hyperlink included below.    

Newsletter Signup — Safeguards Consulting, Inc.    

If you subscribe to our free newsletter, you gain access to all the exclusive security content mentioned above as well as additional content we hope will help you in your role as a security professional. It is also a wonderful way for my firm to stay in contact with you regarding company news, updates, or events so please consider subscribing in time for our June issue!    

Celebrating 14 Years of Safeguards Consulting: A Journey of Physical Security Excellence

Sunday will mark a significant milestone for Safeguards Consulting, Inc. as we proudly celebrate 14 years of delivering physical security technology consulting and design services and remaining our clients’ most trusted advisor. Since our founding on April 7th, 2010, we have remained fully committed to protecting our clients and their employees, valuable assets, organization, facilities, and more.  

Over the past 14 years, we have witnessed the ever-evolving threat landscape and have continually adapted our strategies to stay ahead of the curve. Our dedicated team of experts has worked tirelessly to provide tailored physical security and design services to organizations of all sizes and industries, ensuring that they remain resilient and prepared in the face of emerging threats.  

As we reflect on this journey, we extend our deepest gratitude to our clients, partners, and team members who have been vital to our success. Your trust, support, and collaboration have been the driving force behind our growth and achievements. 

Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. With each passing year, we strive to elevate our standards and empower businesses to navigate the complexities of the digital world with confidence. 

In celebration of our anniversary, our Founder, Mark Schreiber has provided a special message, “It is amazing to think that 14 years have passed since Safeguards Consulting was incorporated. Although much time has transpired, my gratitude and appreciation for my family, employees, clients, partners, industry friends, and supporters has remained constant.  I cannot express how grateful I am for each and every one that has been part of this journey.  

As I step back and reflect, it is truly a blessing how much the firm has grown over the years. We now serve clients all across the globe and are constantly expanding our portfolio as their trusted advisor. I am truly grateful that our firm has the opportunity to serve our clients and protect their organization's people and assets.  

Thank you again for allowing us to live up to the role of your trusted advisor over the past 14 years. I am confident that we will continue to exceed expectations, grow, and further establish ourselves as an international resource for even more great organizations".   

Thank you again for 14 remarkable years. We strive to have many more years of success and growth while also remaining your most trusted advisor.  

Sincerely,  

The Safeguards Consulting Team 

Release of the January 2024 Safeguards Consulting Chronicle

We are proud to share that we recently released the December issue of our firm's monthly newsletter, The Safeguards Consulting Chronicle. We started the newsletter in January 2023 and now reaches security professionals around the globe, and our firm would love to invite you to subscribe!  

Our newsletter covers numerous industry events, news, and updates. Some of the items we included in our December issue were:   

+ A client spotlight piece on The US CPTED Association.   

+ A special Christmas message from our firm.

+ An exclusive article on AI: A Paradigm Shift For Our Industry

+ A list of beneficial industry events, that includes events we are supporting/speaking at as well as other events we recommend attending.   

+ Our list of useful blog articles.    

+ A selection of key industry news and updates.    

+ A quick industry tip as provided by our experts.   

If interested, please subscribe using the hyperlink included below.   

Newsletter Signup — Safeguards Consulting, Inc.    

If you subscribe to our free newsletter, you gain access to all the exclusive security content mentioned above as well as additional content we hope will help you in your role as a security professional. It is also a wonderful way for Safeguards Consulting, Inc. to stay in contact with you regarding company news, updates, or events so please consider subscribing in time for our January issue!   

Release of the December 2023 Safeguards Consulting Chronicle

We are proud to share that we recently released the November issue of our firm's monthly newsletter, The Safeguards Consulting Chronicle. We started the newsletter in January 2023 and now reaches security professionals around the globe, and our firm would love to invite you to subscribe!   

Our newsletter covers numerous industry events, news, and updates.

Some of the items we included in our November issue were:    

+ A client spotlight piece on Glen Raven.    

+ A special Thanksgiving message from our firm.  

+ An exclusive article on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) for Team Building.    

+ A list of beneficial industry events, that includes events we are supporting/speaking at as well as other events we recommend attending.    

+ Our list of useful blog articles.     

+ A selection of key industry news and updates.     

+ A quick industry tip as provided by our experts.   

If interested, please subscribe using the hyperlink included below.   

Newsletter Signup — Safeguards Consulting, Inc.     

If you subscribe to our free newsletter, you gain access to all the exclusive security content mentioned above as well as additional content we hope will help you in your role as a security professional. It is also a wonderful way for Safeguards Consulting, Inc. to stay in contact with you regarding company news, updates, or events so please consider subscribing in time for our December issue!    

Included below is a sample of our previous issue for November.

Schreiber To Speak at USCA October Webinar

Safeguards Consulting Inc would love to see you in attendance at the upcoming U.S. CPTED Association October Webinar that will take place on October 5th at 9 am EST! Our president Mark Schreiber and Professor Hyeonho Park will be discussing ISO's newest and current Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) standards. This is a great way to learn more about how ISO standards are developed and how this standard can be used by the security industry. Please use the Eventbrite link to register; members attend for free!  

For additional information related to the event or to register please visit the links below:  

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/us-cpted-association-october-webinar-registration-277669857017 

https://uscpted.com/registration

Our Academic Partners at Georgia Tech Presented on Digital Twins at the ISARC Symposium

One key question that many in the construction industry are beginning to ask is, "What are digital twins, and how do I incorporate this technology into my work?" There are numerous other technologies that construction workers should consider incorporating as well, such as machine automation and robotics. 

Based on our previous work supporting their academic education and research, Safeguards Consulting is proud to announce that our friends at the Georgia Institute of Technology recently gave a presentation at the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC) on the use of digital twin technologies. The presentation took place in Bogota, Colombia, on July 13-15, 2022. 

The paper presented at the conference, titled "Integrating Digital Twins in Construction Education Through Hands-on Experiential Learning," can be found on page 246 using the link below. We are honored to be associated with this academic achievement! 

https://www.iaarc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ISARC-2022-Proceedings.pdf 

The symposium also covered a wide range of topics, such as construction engineering, machine automation, robotics, and many others, to assist those in the construction industry in gaining a better understanding of the new and upcoming technologies now available for use in their field. ISARC is a non-profit organization that represents various construction categories and strives to improve construction through the use of automation and robotics.