Improved building system technology is making today’s smart buildings safer, more energy efficient, and more attractive to tenants. But ESD, now Stantec Studio Leader and Senior Security Consultant Coleman Wolf says building automated system (BAS) improvements could come with new vulnerabilities. (Read more about intelligent building security.)
Intelligent building systems make facilities more efficient, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the safety and health of occupants. But Studio Leader for Security Systems Coleman Wolf says these same systems may be making companies more vulnerable to cyber threats.
Contractor magazine recently published Wolf’s article, “Is Your Smart Building an Easy Target for Hackers?” According to Wolf, building owners, operators, and contractors, as well as the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing designers implementing new interconnected technologies share a responsibility to protect building systems from outside threats.
Wolf writes, “We are currently emerging into an evolving, post-pandemic workplace that demands greater monitoring and control of indoor air quality (IAQ), detailed awareness of occupancy as people interact with the different spaces, and enhanced control of facility access.” He says these advancements may inadvertently give bad actors more potential access to sensitive data and facility control.
The article outlines where to look for unexpected vulnerabilities and how to limit access and opportunity to would-be hackers.
Coleman Wolf shares his knowledge from over 25 years of security management and security engineering experience to promote ESD, now Stantec’s mission to build communities and to improve society through the built environment.
Contact our experts for more information on how we can help with building automation and cybersecurity.
