ACCESS CONTROL
7 tips and reasons to
invest in cloud-based
critical utilities security
Pip Courcoux at ABLOY UK and Juan Noriega at ABLOY Colombia list
several reasons why it’s high time to invest in cloud-based security
systems – especially in critical infrastructure of public utilities. The main
rationale is that cloud-based solutions allow for evolution to take place.
» DURING THE LATEST, UNUSUAL
months, the role of utilities has
increased significantly. Electricity and
telecom, for example, are more critical
than ever as people have started
telecommuting from their homes, relying
on data and electricity to get their jobs
done. Here are a few reasons why
now is the right time to change into
cloud-based security and access or
locking solutions for your critical utility
infrastructure – and things to consider
when investing.
1. Instead of making
decisions based on today’s
needs, look ahead
One of the biggest challenges with
security in utilities is that the rate of
technological change in the last 10
to 20 years has been tremendous.
After centuries of mechanical keys
and padlocks, we have seen a strong
rise of electromechanical and digital
locking solutions during the last decade.
That has meant a big change for our
customers.
We discussed with one of our
customers in the energy sector about
their payment method preference
for the security solutions we provide
them. It turned out they were keen on a
subscription model. Earlier they would
have paid for a mechanical piece of
metal that would be used for the next 20
years. But today, no-one knows what his/
her infrastructure will look like in the next
decade.
The Internet of Things (IoT) will be
rolled out also in the utilities sector
during the next three to five years. IoT
may not sound super-exciting at first,
but just think about your infrastructure
network, equipped with telemetry and
sensors – including digital security and
access control solutions – constantly
sending data over fast 5G connections.
Your networks suddenly become more
visible and more autonomous.
In fact, modern security systems are
both part of these networks and at the
same time also secure them.
So, don’t fall into the pitfall of making
your investment decision based on
a snapshot of your operations today.
Instead, try to see how the picture will
look in the next five to ten years, and
leave enough room for change. Make
sure the solution you commit to is futureready.
2. Start capitalising on the
benefits of the cloud – it allows
for evolution to take place
The transition into the cloud has been
going on for over a decade in many
other business fields. Access control,
on the other hand, has been of the
slowest markets in adopting new cloud
technologies and their benefits.
This has been the case, although
cloud-supported locking solutions have
been available for at least ten years.
Our latest locking innovation for critical
infrastructure, ABLOY® BEAT, is actually
available only as a Software-as-a-Service
(SaaS) hosted cloud option.
Any utility organization considering
a transition to the cloud should not
hesitate to take the step and begin to
take advantage of the flexibility, lower
costs, and better security it brings.
Just make sure you are working with a
reliable provider that understands the
needs of your physical as well as cyber
infrastructure.
3. Bring all your security
and safety needs together
when calling for tenders
Another important thing to consider
when selecting access control solutions
for your utility infrastructure, is to bring
the security needs of both your critical
and noncritical operational, and office or
administration sites together. Failing to
do so increases the risk of investing in
siloed systems that don’t interact.
There are also many layers in terms
of “critical”. Usually the portion of
a network that is critical is small. In
electricity, critical operational sites
are usually ones that supply power to
hospitals or airports, whereas power
substations in urban areas are less
critical, although they are higher in
volume.
The requirements for these various
kinds of sites are different. In critical
operational sites access control
needs to be highly secure, flexible
and traceable and ensure a safe place
for employees and subcontractors. In
noncritical operational sites locking
solutions need to be cost-effective and
easy to use. In office and administration
sites with more door environments, on
the other hand, access cards may be a
better option rather than keys.
As said, make sure all your security
systems can be integrated together
with your other workflow solutions and
managed with the same user interface.
28
JUL/AUG 2020
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