THE EVOLUTION OF RISK MANAGEMENT,

WAS DARWIN RIGHT?

In the Theory of Evolution, Darwin suggests that evolution is about survival of the fittest.  Was he right?  While he was talking about the natural world, his theory also applies to the security business.

In order to survive in today’s world businesses must adapt to their environments.  The threats that were around twenty years ago have changed.  They’ve become more sophisticated and must be adapted to.  What worked before won’t necessarily work in today’s world.  Not only have threats scenarios evolved but with the increase in technologies so have a new variety of threats come about. 

It used to be that a person who wanted to commit a breach of security had to be physically present in the space in order to carry out the attack.  That is no longer the case.  Since just about everything that has a moving part to it is somehow connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), a hacker does not have to be present in the physical sense in order to disable a closed circuit television (CCTV) camera, for example.  This means, a new way of thinking about threats, vulnerabilities and risk is necessary.

Threats used to be pretty much two-dimensional.  That no longer is true.  Those involved in the risk management business must think in three-dimensional terms.  In fact, they need to think about security as if it were a cube or box.  It’s six-dimensional and the approach to risk management must be carried-out that way.  This will require, pardon the pun, “outside of the box” thinking.

Additionally, without the “it’s part of the culture” way of doing business threat scenarios will continue to be played out with varying degrees of impact – and, some will be catastrophic.  Since we cannot prevent threats from occurring one hundred percent of the time we have to get the results down to a level that we can accept and handle with available resources.  This requires us to include scenario that are improbable but the results will overwhelm resources.  I call this “impact centric planning”.   I know most of us will not encounter an active shooter situation within our lifetime but active shooter threats must be planned for wherever high concentrations of people gather.  The adage, it won’t happen here cannot be the flavor of the day.  You’re right it probably won’t happen here, BUT if it does?  What will be the impact?

Not only must we deal with threats that are likely but we also must deal with threats that would be catastrophic even though very unlikely.   An excellent example of a highly unlikely event is the Las Vegas shooting incident.  That event was so improbable that if I would have brought it up during a planning session those in the room would have thrown their coffee at me. 

In order to survive, we must ensure we are the fittest.  So, Darwin was absolutely right.

If Data is the New Currency of the Modern World Then Why

Is My Account Overdrawn?

According to a recent report in Security Megatrends: The 2018 Vision for the Security Industry published by the Security Industry Association 99.5 percent of all data collected via electronic devices goes unused.  Let that sink in for a second.  99.5% is wasted.  Less than .5 percent is accessed, analyzed and used in some type of constructive way.  I can’t imagine any other industry or area of life where less than one-half of one percent is good return on investment (ROI).

Here’s some data provided in the article "Accessing and Analyzing Smart and Big Data, Moving into Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality", using 60 seconds as the baseline, on just the social media platforms that I use:

·         Google – more than 3.8 million searches

·         Twitter – more than 350,000 tweets

·         Facebook – more than 243,000 photos uploaded and 70,000 hours of video content viewed

·         Linked-In – 120 new accounts created

So, why does this occur.  Well, it has to do with automation and the progressive nature of technology.  We’ve all heard the standard cliché that your phone has more data processing capability than the spaceships that went to the moon.  There have been surprising advancements in just about every sector of society.

I read an article some time back, that said your bank account could be hacked through your toaster.  At the time, I thought it a bit far-fetched,  But now the home improvement stores are selling refrigerators that can order food for you, if programed properly.  While, I think that was a little exaggerated but the point the author was making was, if your toaster has a microchip in it and that sensor report data somewhere, there is the potential that a person with malicious intent could through that sensor get to my bank account.

But is this a good thing?  For the most part yes.  I mean, think about it, only a few decades ago, if you were diagnosed with the big “C”, you started counting your days.  Now, more people survive and overcome the disease than don’t.  But on the other hand, let’s not get too carried away.  Technology is a tool and should be used as such; a tool that allows us to make better decisions about life choices.  Let’s remember that technology is not the solutions but it can be used to find the solution.

One of the areas where there is promise, within the security industry, is the area of “augmented reality” or AR.  We’ve all heard of “virtual reality” where the user is immersed in a fictional environment.  With AR the data augments the natural environment.  A simple example would be the ability to super-imposed a data screen on the visor of a motorcycle policeman that presents him or her with information about traffic up ahead, including accidents or breakdowns.  Or data information relayed to first responders during active shooter events.  This ability will undoubtedly save lives.

Estimates are that the Internet of Things (IoT) will mushroom in the coming years to between 34 Billion and 58 Billion devices connected to the data grid in some way by 2020.   Even if the world population doubles in the next two years (which is highly unlikely) that’s more than two devices per person.  

The hard part, in all of this is, will be figuring out what data to analyze, what to keep for the future and when to give it to someone to use now.    

The Marriage of Cyber and Physical Security is Not a

Match Made in Heaven

Megatrend #2 from Security Megatrends, The 2018 Vision for the Security Industry, produced and published by the Security Industry Association (SIA) is, “Cyber Meets Physical Security, Threats Magnify with Digital Innovation[1]”  hits the proverbial nail on the head.   With the connectivity of electronic devices to the internet, more and more of the different technologies we use in our daily lives are susceptible to compromise.  I read an article about a year back that talked about how in theory your new toaster could get hacked by someone with nefarious intentions and through that connectivity could steal your personal identifying information (PII).  While I believe that scenario to be a little far-fetched, I do believe the point was made.  The point being, that my smart phone, smart TV and even my smart refrigerator, especially if I had it set up to automatically order milk or bread for me directly with the store, is highly susceptible since I would most certainly have payment information in my stored profile.

The connectivity to the IoT is inherently vulnerable.  Since there’s an electronic connection, eventually given enough time, a “bad guy” will figure out a way to breach whatever security systems are in place.  Just ask Equifax, Sony Pictures, Target, etc.

The only absolute way to keep a breach from happening is not to connect to the IoT.  Unfortunately in today’s world that is just not possible.  We cannot function without being connected.  Now even my wife’s Jeep’s telling her she need servicing, before it was, “Hey, Honey, there’s a red light on on  the dashboard.  What’s that mean? “  Now, she gets a message on her phone that tells her  the tire pressure’s too low.

This convergence of cyber and physical means that physical security must be much tighter than it’s been in the past.  We can’t rely on the good guys to build a strong enough firewall, while vitally important, equally important is the physical security piece.  We need to teach our folks and ourselves how to spot vulnerabilities and how to protect those vulnerabilities from being exploited in a language they can understand.  I know a software engineer and whenever I talk with him, I have no idea what he’s talking about.   Listen if it’s a burden – I can’t understand it – I won’t do or use it. 

The vetting process, to ensure the right folks are working on our systems has to be comprehensive and continual.  Just because a person gets the job, it doesn’t mean the vetting process stops.  The vetting process must be continuing.  Physical security measures must also make sure that only people that have been cleared can physically access systems that they’ve been cleared for and not have a general run of the place.   I believe the DIY days are over.  Sure, there are some things any person should be able to do, like follow the tutorial on setting up a TV but other things that are in the Settings should probably be left up to an expert to change.  There is a tremendous assumption that just because I can read I can also understand the code being spoken.

Cyber security focuses on cyber-threats and the ability to detect and mitigate ransom ware attacks, especially as they’ve become a popular mechanism to extort businesses, will become more and more important.  I’m beginning to understand less and less about computers, how they work and what they can do to make my life simpler, because I have to do more and more of what use to be done by that weird guy down the hall.

I’m not sure I’m ready to have a micro-chip make all of the decisions of my daily life for me.  I have a feeling, it’s going to be a “rocky” marriage because I can't divorce her.

Next month:  If Data is the New Currency of the Modern World Then Why Is My Account Overdrawn?

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[1] Security Megatrends 2018 edition is available here https://www.securityindustry.org/report/security-megatrends-2018-vision-security-industry/

Security Opportunities within the Booming IoT Market

The Future is Bright for Non-electronics, Too

The term Internet of Things was coined back in the late 90’s.  The somewhat official definition is “A network of dedicated physical objects that contain embedded technology to interact internally or externally”.  I think we can all agree that is a very broad brush definition.  I would rephrase it to be, basically “an ecosystem that includes electronic things, and the communications and data analysis between them”.

With that in mind, let’s look at where we are today and where we’re going.

Today there are an estimated 7billion devices connected via the internet and applications that use the internet.  That’s a device for every human on the planet.  In just five years that number will increase to over 50billion.  The use of The Cloud is fueling this increase.

What does this mean for the security profession?  Simply put lots of openings and an unlimited number of chances.  In other words, if you can think it, you can make it happen. 

This increase in the realm of possibilities will affect every aspect of our daily lives.  So whether you’re involved in the residential, small business or corporate security market, you can make it.

I usually think of security solutions as following into one of two spheres – electronic or non-electronic.

ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES

Electronic technologies are just that – technologies that are electronic.  Kind of a no brainer, don’t you think?  These technologies run the gamut from intrusion detection systems to access control to surveillance and beyond.  They’re becoming ever more sophisticated and complex.

Unfortunately, as technology evolves it will probably become more invasive.  It will collect more and more data about you. 

These invasive technologies already assault our daily lives.  Just imagine how that will change in the future.  While there is tremendous resentment about governments collecting data on individuals.  Companies, such as, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and other major retailers are doing it and no one really seems to care.

The use of cellphones will become almost an extension of ourselves.  We will be able to do everything from or with our phone.  I suspect someone is going to develop a security app that will read your blood pressure or your heart rhythm to authenticate that you are the correct user, instead of the fingerprint reader or PIN code of today.  Your phone will become your “Mini-me”.  It will know your behavior patterns well enough to “help” you make choices.

If you’re a dealer, distributor, integrator, system installer or work in a parallel vertical the opportunities abound, as you provide solutions for your customers.  It really won’t matter which product or service you provide, as there is a place and need for all of it, and combining technologies will provide even more opportunities.

The development of “predictive analytics” based on data collection will allow companies to forecast their customers buying habits better.  My personal opinion is that “predictive analyst” will become a job title and many security companies will hire them to determine future sales projections and to forecast their future markets.  With that in mind, there is already some technology out there that can analyze behavioral patterns.  Does this mean that access control will be determined by a biometric sensor and as a back-up analysis app that says, this is you because you always show up for work at this time or an even more sophisticated analysis by the pressure you apply to the pin-pad as you type in your PIN code?

NON-ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES

Non-electronic technologies on the other hand don’t use electricity to function. They can range from windows and doors to landscaping or even the way a particular building or inhabited area is designed. 

Fortunately, to counter the invasiveness of the electronic age, non-technologic innovation will become less invasive as we develop better materials and strategies as we design inhabited space. 

I believe we can “socially engineer” inhabited space.  We can incorporate specific urban design strategies that cause positive behaviors so that there is less reliance on the invasive use of electronic means to keep us safe.  Ultimately citizens don’t want cameras that watch their every move; instead they want space that is functional and free of crime and unwanted behaviors.  By increasing the effectiveness in controlling the social behaviors of the people using or transiting the space, the environments will become safer and need fewer electronic gadgets.

We are at the cusp of an explosion in technologies, both electronic and otherwise.  Whether you are in the business of providing solutions directly in the form of a product or service or in the business of providing solutions indirectly, i.e., architect, engineer, security consultant or government official strap yourself in and hold on to your hat because it’ going to be a great ride with lots of opportunities for all to excel.

What Makes Great Space?

What Makes Great Space?

Making Smart Buildings Wise

With the explosion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the push for interconnectivity of devices we've been concentrating on making buildings, transportation, and every other facet of our lives "Smart".  Many conferences or symposiums are being held all over the world to discuss this phenomena.  In fact, I participated in the Smart Cities India 2015 Conference and Expo and provided input to the IFSEC Security Conference this past December and will again participate this coming May at the 2nd Smart Cities India 2016 Conference and Expo in New Delhi, India. 

Our discussion centered on the technological ability of connecting devices to more efficiently and effectively manage systems  - transportation, food supply, energy, etc.  I think we can go a step beyond that and say, "Efficiency is nice but what I really care about is the ability to raise my family somewhere where I don't have to worry about them being safe".

By shaping the built environment and integrating solutions, both physical and technological, that are transparent we can create neighborhoods where people actually want to work, live and raise their families- not because they are efficient but because the are safe.  As urban centers of the future increase in population so will the demand for functionality on a multitude of levels. 

One clear local example of the effective and efficient use of space is "The Collection" located at River Park area in Oxnard, CA.  The neighborhoods, both residential and retail, are vibrant with dynamic examples of "Great Space" usage. 

We'll discuss Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) and other design principles that define "Great Space" with a 2 day workshop on  May 2nd and 3rd at the River Park Executive Suites, in Oxnard. Please join us. Click on https//hainessecuritysolutions.com for the latest details.