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Is Your Biggest Security Threat an Unlocked Door?

March 15, 2022

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Protecting the modern enterprise tends to become a task of safeguarding against digital threats – and with good reason. According to the Ponemon Institute’s 2021 “Cost of Data Breach Study,” the average cost of a data breach in the United States has hit an all-time high, coming in at a cool $4.24M – up 10% from last year.

But before you write off physical security concerns forever, the study also found that 9% of incidents were rooted in a physical security breach. Servers are physical, after all, and they have to be stored somewhere – with somebody’s key.

Whether digital or physical, security events lose you time, money, and perhaps worst of all, the trust of your customers.  The strongest security posture takes into account all possible angles, including physical infrastructure.

Let’s review some commonly overlooked areas that could be introducing unnecessary risk at your organization.

Silos abound in the cyber-physical world

Whether you’re working in a smart factory or boarding a plane with your phone, connected devices are shaping how we live and work. And as the workplace increasingly straddles the digital and the physical, the systems managing access to both spaces need to come together and work as one. Why? Cyber-physical attacks exploit the gaps that exist between operating systems. Factor in that many organizations operate with separate HR, OT, IT and physical security systems – and that’s a fair amount of vulnerability.

A zero-trust approach in the cyber realm, even though it’s effective, could be leaving major gaps in how you deal with physical access. By taking a zero-trust approach in the physical realm, you can implement software controls that help close gaps in terms of policy enforcement, visitors, badge deactivation and more.

Here’s the benefit(s): When you converge operational silos, you can begin linking digital and physical employee identities to create one view of access. As a result, your HR, physical security and IT teams can work from the same information to implement new policies, clarify discrepancies and respond to potential threats. Convergence also sets the stage for automating access policies – and as an added bonus, employees enjoy a smoother experience with the access they need throughout their careers.

Don’t forget about visitors …

As labor shortages grow, there’s fewer available resources to mind the front desk. This is especially true in the case of hybrid work environments where employees have the freedom to set their own work hours. As a result, your visitor protocols fall on overburdened staff – or simply fall by the wayside in favor of more value-added work. An automated approach can help ensure that visitors only gain access to the right spaces once they’ve provided the appropriate credentials.

Here’s the benefit(s): When you automate visitor check-in through solutions like self-service kiosks, you’re automatically inputting that data into your overall dashboard for a complete view of everyone’s access. This comes especially in handy for organizations facing new vaccination mandates and contact tracing requirements. You’re also improving the visitor experience, which boosts your brand. You can even save extra time and money by reallocating 24/7 security guards.

… and evolving work schedules

The way we work is changing, and many companies are moving to a hybrid work format in which employees spend certain days in the office and others working remotely. As schedules become more sporadic, how will you manage physical workplace access? Since most legacy physical access control systems can only handle 24/7 card access, you will need a new strategy for making sure your physical spaces stay protected.

Here’s the benefit(s): Implementing a policy-based access management system (PBAC) for physical access helps you control the gaps between digital and physical access while maintaining visibility. And we can help: we’re currently developing the first-of-its kind policy-based access control solution.

Open new doors for your company

When you address the physical side of the security equation, you’re not just shoring up a stronger overall security posture. You will also be implementing new efficiencies that make work easier – and safer – for everyone. Let’s connect to chat about how we can help you get there using your existing system through a converged approach.

Let's chat.

A black and white headshot of David Cassady.

David Cassady

Chief Strategy Officer

David Cassady has been selling and leading teams in Silicon Valley for more than 30 years. During that time, he’s led a mix of established software players and startups. Cassady has also been involved with five IPOs — and at least as many acquisitions. 

As Chief Strategy Officer, David leverages his extensive experience helping software businesses drive growth through deep and impactful partnerships with the world’s most successful SaaS providers like ServiceNow, Microsoft and SAP. 

A black and white headshot of Mark

Mark Weatherford

Chief Security Officer
Senior Vice President, Regulated Industries

Mark Weatherford brings years of high-level cyber-physical expertise to Alert Enterprise, and as Chief Security Officer (CSO), he guides the strategy of data management and protection by advising cyber-physical security policies and procedures within the company. Weatherford also works in liaison with businesses and executive professionals in the cyber and physical security industries to further accelerate security convergence adoption.

Mark has held numerous high-level cyber-centric positions, including Vice President and Chief Security Officer at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Department of Homeland Security’s first Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity under the Obama administration, California’s first Chief Security Officer, and the first CISO for the state of Colorado.

A black and white headshot of Harsh Chauhan

Harsh Chauhan

Chief Technology Officer

As Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Alert Enterprise, Harsh Chauhan is responsible for the company’s engineering technology innovation and solution delivery. A 20-year technology veteran and leader, Chauhan is focused on the growth of the company’s 3D Governance Risk Compliance (GRC) hyperscale cloud platform.

He also continues to develop integrated solutions with leading technology partners like SAP, SAP NS2, and ServiceNow. Before Alert Enterprise, Mr. Chauhan held multiple CTO positions, as well as Product Owner and Head of Development at SAP GRC 10.0, delivering targeted solutions to high-profile SAP clients.

Ruby Deal headshot

Ruby Deol

Chief Operations Officer

Ruby Deol oversees all business units at Alert Enterprise. With more than 20 years of experience in global sales and support services, Deol nurtures existing client relationships with a customer-first approach. As Alert Enterprise continues to grow in industry recognition and stature, Deol is charged with developing and implementing methods to meet organization goals and facilitate the company’s ongoing transformation.
A black and white headshot of Kaval

Kaval Kaur

CFO and Co-Founder

As Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Co-Founder of Alert Enterprise, Kaval Kaur leads all finance and administrative back-office operations. Kaur is a member of the national professional organization American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the California State CPA Society.

Prior to joining Alert Enterprise, she was the CFO and Co-Founder of Virsa Systems, a position she held until its acquisition by SAP.

Kaur is a philanthropist at heart, embracing the diversity of the San Francisco Bay area by assisting with and promoting special cultural events. She recently sponsored 2,000 public schools in rural India to advance computer literacy skills for children and is a foster mother to a 10 year old.

Jasvir Gill

Jasvir Gill

Founder and CEO

Leading the charge of digital transformation and security convergence is Jasvir Gill, Founder and CEO of Alert Enterprise, Inc. An accomplished engineer by trade, Gill is driving the long-overdue digital transformation of the physical security industry.

Prior to launching Alert Enterprise, Gill was the founder and CEO of Virsa Systems, where he grew the company into a global leader of application security software. An early pioneer in establishing governance, risk and compliance as a software market segment, he drove exponential growth at Virsa, facilitating its acquisition by SAP in 2006.

In his free time, Jasvir helps drive social and economic empowerment in the community. He’s also a trustee at the American India Foundation.