SECURITY SYSTEMS
Cyber-safe green buildings
IT cybersecurity specialist , OryxAlign , is calling for the integration of stronger cybersecurity measures in green buildings in its latest guide , The Green Buildings Guide , 2024 : Achieving Green , Healthy & Cyber Secure Buildings . The guide highlights the essential role of technology in achieving environmental endorsements for buildings , emphasising the significance of cybersecurity due to the increasing integration of Internet of Things ( IoT ) and Operational Technology ( OT ) devices .
Aimed at commercial real estate managers , construction experts and facilities managers , the guide first focuses on green and healthy building certification , detailing market trends , certification processes and the benefits of achieving such certifications for market value , operational costs and occupant health . It then moves onto discuss the technology involved in achieving this , such as monitoring and control systems , Smart Metres and HVAC systems and how to keep these cybersecure .
According to a YouGov survey commissioned by OryxAlign , 86 % of tenants consider green buildings to be important or very important . This high demand for green buildings has triggered a rapid growth of rating schemes such as LEED , BREEAM and WELL .
The guide underscores the necessity of integrating smart technologies to achieve and maintain these green building certifications and support various sustainability goals , including energy efficiency and air quality . These technologies include IoT devices such as Smart Thermostats and OT devices such as fire alarm control panels , both of which are directly or indirectly connected to the internet – and therefore , accessible by hackers .
Although integrating Smart Technology is essential to making a building green and healthy , it should be noted that , according to SonicWall , between 2021 and 2022 there was an 87 % increase in global IoT attacks .
“ Smart Devices are essential in driving forward sustainability within buildings ,” explained Peter Schwartz , Senior Technology Consultant at OryxAlign . “ But these endpoints are connected to a network and can communicate with other networked devices or systems , making them potential targets for cyberthreats that can quickly spread throughout a building .”
OryxAlign ’ s guide provides insights into potential threats and cybersecurity challenges , offering best practices such as risk assessment , endpoint hardening and network segmentation . These are aligned with standards from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology ( NIST ) and the Centre for Internet Security ( CIS ). This information is crucial for stakeholders in the construction and management of green buildings , as it highlights the importance of incorporating robust cybersecurity measures alongside the integration of Smart Technologies to ensure the safety , privacy and operational integrity of green buildings .
“ Our guide delves into the critical technologies for sustainable , secure buildings , outlining specific cybersecurity risks like IoT and OT vulnerabilities and detailing the least secure devices – security cameras , smart thermostats and access control systems ,” added Schwartz . “ It underscores the necessity of practices like network segmentation , multi-factor authentication and regular updates to mitigate these threats .”
The YouGov survey comprised 300 respondents from the UK . These respondents were senior decision makers at tenant organisations , construction companies or IT departments from various sectors such as manufacturing , construction , financial services , IT and telecoms , medical and health services and education . The research showed that 44 % of responders were from organisations with more than 1,000 employees . �
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