3 Pro Tips to Avoid IP Security Camera Breaches

The harsh truth is that IP video surveillance cameras are just another entry point for hackers to target corporate networks. Securing your video security network matters now more than ever. Brad Konkle, Vice President of Service at STANLEY Security details security concerns with video surveillance systems and explains why it’s time to put in place an IoT governance program.

It’s no secret that cyberattacks are on the rise, and by now, you’ve also probably heard there is no one-size-fits-all solution to help prevent them. 

Video surveillance is an integral part of every business’s security arsenal. It can provide teams with easy access to view live or recorded feeds and serve as a crime deterrent. Over the past few years, business and government use of video surveillanceOpens a new window cameras have increased and shows no sign of slowing down. According to a recent study, it is estimated that by 2021, there will be over 1 billion surveillance camerasOpens a new window watching all over the world. 

Integrating your physical security infrastructure with your IP networks can provide a lot of benefits, including streamlining your supply chain and reducing costs for materials and installation. When IP video surveillance cameras are poorly secured, it can lead to serious consequences. However, such risks can be eliminated with simple security measures and precautions. 

1) Know What’s on Your Network

The first and arguably most important step is knowing exactly what devices are on your network and how they are functioning. Before the convergence we are seeing now with IT professionals and physical security professionals, the physical security team was implementing and handling video surveillance cameras and other network-enabled devices such as access control systems. Now, as an IT professional looking at your network, you may see rogue, unused or unnecessary devices lingering on the network. 

Using tools such as an IoT governance platformOpens a new window can provide visibility into all of the devices on your network through a single dashboard –– integrating with both physical and network security equipment. This technology can save you time and money by detecting and verifying previously installed devices like video surveillance cameras and access control panels. 

Learn More: 5 Best Practices to Secure Video Conferencing Recordings

2) Conduct Regularly Scheduled Vulnerability Tests

When transmitting information over IP networks, there is a thin line between latency and reliability. To ensure your video monitoring component has been properly configured, it is important to test all associated protocols, firmware and hardware. 

Protocol testing can be used to examine the security of communications to and from the device on the network and notify you of any major errors to determine network vulnerabilities that could be intercepted for unauthorized capture or modification. 

Device firmware has become a popular target for cyber attackers; while it’s often neglected in security reviews, attacks on firmware can devastate your business. Firmware could have vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, backdoor accounts or injection flaws. 

With outdated firmware, you could potentially create an opportunity for cyber attackers to leverage the cameras on your network to attack other systems or steal video footage. You should apply any device firmware updates available to mitigate these risks. To verify the latest firmware is secure, you could run a vulnerability scan or penetration test to identify weaknesses in the device.

As technology becomes more advanced, there have been solutions made available to help identify and resolve these vulnerabilities more effectively and efficiently. Service assurance technology can help businesses address issues before they happen and help avoid costly headaches down the road by locating and diagnosing those vulnerabilities.

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3) Update Default Usernames and Passwords

One reason why video surveillance cameras are so easy to hack is the fact that many users keep the default usernames and passwords when they are setting up videos on their network. It also doesn’t help that video manufacturers have made access even easier by publishing their default usernames and passwords for hackers to find. 

To prevent this, it is important to use a strong password when the system is being deployed. While there is not one password guaranteed to be hacker-proof, using numbers, symbols, and both uppercase and lowercase letters can help increase the difficulty to hack, lessening the chance cyberattackers will gain control over your system.  

Over the past few months especially, new threats have been surfacing every minute. To reduce the risk of potential cyber attackers breaking into your security network, use these recommendations to properly ensure your network is secured and detect any abnormalities to allow your team to react quickly.

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