In a world where everything is connected, it’s more important than ever to have reliable security measures for your building management system. Whether you manage a high-profile building or are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, hackers are increasingly targeting these systems, compromising data with potentially disastrous consequences. That’s why it’s essential to have security measures in place that keep your system safe and secure.
The Importance of BMS Security
A BMS is a wide-reaching digital system connecting various parts of your building. But as building management systems have become increasingly more complex, to deal with the IoT demands of a modern-day building, their interconnectedness has made them more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. As such, it’s essential to employ robust security measures to protect your BMS from hackers or harmful software.
Some of the most common security threats to a building management system include:
- Malware: A cyber attack in the form of software that is specifically designed to damage or disable a computer system. Malware can be used to delete files, infect systems with viruses, or even take complete control of a system.
- Ransomware: A type of malware that invades your system and encrypts data, ransomware takes the added step of demanding a financial ransom be paid in order to get your system back online. Not only can this underhand tactic remove your access to important data, but even if you do pay the ransom, there’s no guarantee you’ll be given back full control.
- Denial of Service (DoS) attacks: These attacks aim to overload a system with requests so that it can no longer function properly. This is usually done by flooding the system with traffic or requests or by controlling devices connected to the system and using them to send requests. DoS attacks can cause your system to be down for an extended time, causing significant disruptions.
- Data breaches: A data breach occurs when there is unauthorised access to company files. Depending on how your building management system is being used, a data breach could lead to the loss of sensitive data or the exposure of confidential information.
While these risks aren’t reserved for building management systems alone and are, in fact, much more commonplace across main operations such as office computer systems, the BMS is a possible route of infection.
With this in mind, much like you would protect your PC using antivirus software, it’s essential to have a reliable security measure that can protect your building management system from vulnerabilities.
How To Improve The Cybersecurity of your Building Management System
If one part of your BMS system is compromised, it can have a ripple effect that affects the entire system. That’s why it’s so important that your BMS has an adequate level of security protection. The best defence against cyber attacks is multi-pronged, using a variety of security features to prevent unauthorised access to your system. Here are a few tips that are easy to implement and that, together, create a barricade against malicious activity:
Keep Your System Up To Date
By keeping your system up to date, you can help to avoid security gaps from appearing within your BMS. This includes updating the software, firmware, and drivers for all devices that are connected to your building management system. We recommend scheduling regular updates and undertaking checks to ensure they are installed correctly.
Use Strong Passwords
All too often, people use weak passwords that can be easily compromised. A hacking program can crack a ten-digit lowercase password in as little as one hour, but add a number, symbol and uppercase letter, and your new password would take five years to crack. When it comes to your BMS, passwords are not a place to cut corners. Use a strong password that uses a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters for ultimate protection.
Carefully Manage BMS Networks And Access
While the BMS itself may not be the main target of a cyber attacker, gaining access to the BMS network could facilitate an incursion into a client’s systems.
As BMS and IoT continue to converge, the likelihood of the BMS network being connected to the enterprise IT at some point increases. This makes the relatively unguarded BMS networks ever more attractive as possible attack vectors.
Managing physical network access and security will help prevent this occurring.
Use A Firewall
Firewalls are by no means the impenetrable layer of protection they once were, but they do offer an additional layer of security, filtering unauthorised access to your system. Firewalls can also help monitor and control the traffic going in and out of your network, a useful tool for analysing untoward activity.
Protect Your Building Management System Today
As you can see, there are many steps that you can take to improve the cybersecurity of your building management system. But you’re also not alone in protecting your system from harm.
The team at Cube Controls is on-hand to support you with all your security needs, from maintaining your building management system with updates, to incorporating additional security features. Don’t let the security of your BMS be an afterthought, protect your buildings and the companies operating within them with a cohesive approach to cybersecurity.
Speak to a member of the team today to find out more about BMS Security solutions.
