Kudelski Security and Securitas Highlight the Need for Cyber and Physical Security Partnerships

CHESEAUX-SUR-LAUSANNE, Switzerland and PHOENIX (AZ), USA, January 23rd, 2018 - Kudelski Security, the cybersecurity division within the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S) and trusted innovator for the world's most security-conscious organizations, today announced the availability of a whitepaper titled, "Controlling Business Risk: A Cyber & Physical Security Partnership".

The paper was co-developed with experts from Swiss Securitas Group, a well-established, Switzerland-based security services company that brought in its existing know-how on this combined security subject. The paper details the need for organizations to adopt a combined cyber-physical risk mitigation approach, while providing examples and best-practices to ensure secure business objectives.

The methodology proposed in this paper is based on ISO 31000 phases and identifies a combined workflow to establish context, perform a risk assessment and address vulnerabilities.

In this paper, a combined approach to cyber-physical risk mitigation is explored and examples are provided to demonstrate its effectiveness. This comprehensive approach should be as broad as possible and integrate the following elements:

• Procedures: Related to leadership, management, processes and organization, strategy, studies, conception.
• Architecture and Design: Covering areas such as environment, location and structural considerations.
• Physical Security: With particular focus on access control, segregation of people and vehicles, flow of goods, security staff.
• Technical Security: CCTV, alarm systems, radios, automated plate number recognition, delivery management systems.
• People: Security culture and awareness, vigilance, training, information.
• Cyber/IT Security: Entailing asset management, network security, log collection and analysis, incident response, disaster recovery and more.

"To more effectively mitigate risk, an assessment must be performed together by teams from both the physical security and information technology departments," said Rich Fennessy, chief executive officer of Kudelski Security. "Historically, these two teams often build silos and do not collaborate or share information when it comes to addressing security risks. With new threats constantly emerging, it is imperative the groups gain the other's input if that organization truly wishes to be more secure from both a physical and cyber security perspective."

CEO of Swiss Securitas Group, Armin Berchtold, added: "The Swiss Securitas Group has been known as the epitome of security, since it was founded in 1907 and has made a name for itself in Europe and beyond for systems and solutions that address evolving security needs. As a market leader, we have a responsibility to highlight emerging security issues that need consideration by actors within the sector. The roles of cyber and physical security within the overall security strategy of an organization has become one such issue."

The whitepaper is authored by Ryan Spanier, head of Research at Kudelski Security, along with Toni Gertsch, who heads the competence center for integral security management within Swiss Securitas Group. "Controlling Business Risk: A Cyber and Physical Security Partnership" can be downloaded at no cost at: https://resources.kudelskisecurity.com/cyber-and-physical-security-white-paper

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