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Unsecure online camera feeds could be an open door to your business , says new whitepaper
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FOLLOWING IFSEC LAST month , Panasonic launched a new whitepaper , looking at CCTV network security and what it says is the current , often lax attitude towards it .
A new industry whitepaper from Panasonic Business looks at the current attitudes to CCTV network security , and what needs to change as sensitive camera feeds increasingly move online .
Titled ‘ Just how secure is your video surveillance ?’ the whitepaper argues that cameras indirectly provide a lot of vital information about a location or organisation that can be researched anonymously over the Internet , without having the person accessing the data present at the site .
Information such as when people leave a building , where there are gaps in the areas being recorded , or even cameras recording things like passwords or door codes being entered aids a potential break-in .
This danger does not have to come directly from the anonymous internet hackers – frustrated employees , former staff members wishing to take revenge , or customers , suppliers or competitors , all stand to potentially benefit from such confidential information .
Professional IT networks are never managed without some sort of security in place , but when it comes to CCTV systems , security settings are often left at an insecure level or even completely disregarded , creating a major gap in security for what may be an otherwise highly secure organisation .
Standard default passwords , for instance , are estimated to have not been changed on more than 60 % of all video cameras , a shortcoming that makes them very easy to manipulate .
With today ’ s IP-based cameras running on their own operating system and connecting to wider IT networks , unsecured devices are also a way of potentially accessing other parts of the network and gaining control .
The security risk extends to the footage obtained by CCTV systems , through unauthorised access to , and tampering with , network video recorders . When such tampering occurs , it can often go un-noticed as the system continues to function normally , but the damage to evidential material has already been done .
“ By their very nature , CCTV cameras are often installed in sensitive areas , and if there is unauthorised access , the footage can provide a lot of information about a business ,” said Gerard Figols , European Product Marketing Manager for Panasonic security . “ When events are captured on a CCTV system , you need to be sure that the evidence is captured securely , and that ’ s what we ’ re calling on the industry to consider here .”
At IFSEC 2016 , Panasonic launched its secure communications platform , and announced an end to end cyber secure CCTV system at IFSEC this year . The platform and package of data protection elements work with Panasonic ’ s IP CCTV
DRONE DEMONSTRATIONS FEATURED AT DRONE ZONE ON IFSEC TV camera systems to protect against video tampering and altering , spoofing and snooping . The evidence value of recordings is also secured using device certificate from Symantec Managed PKI with cryptographic technology , alongside alteration detection technology .
“ By taking time to perform simple tasks like immediately changing default camera passwords during setup , updating software or checking adequate backups are being made , operators can remain safe in the knowledge that their CCTV system is actually up to the task of protecting themselves , staff and customers . The technology now also exists to completely encrypt video data across the network , and it is important that operators take advantage of it ,” added Gerard Figols .
The whitepaper is available to read at http :// business . panasonic . co . uk / securitysolutions / securitywhitepapers
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JASON WOODCOCK , MD OF UAS Flight Ops , showcased two commercial drones in the Drone Zone at IFSEC 2017 .
Speaking to IFSEC TV , he discussed the applications and groundbreaking functionality of this technology .
UAS Flight Ops is a professional , legal drone company , registered with the
Civil Aviation Authority ( CAA ) providing drone photography , filming and drone inspection services in the UK and worldwide .
It has become the first stop for anyone looking to utilise the functionality and cost-saving of a drone ( Unmanned Aircraft System ).
UAS Flight Ops clients include major TV companies , Search & Rescue and other emergency services and one of the fastest growing areas , the use of thermal to 3D mapping to identify and in some cases , remove health and safety concerns in potentially hazardous situations .
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL . CO . UK | JUL / AUG 2017 Sponsored by SMP Security Solutions