One of the great benefits of attending AGE is the chat! Chatting with managers – and directors – who are daily facing the challenges presented to their clubs. It gives you an immediate gauge on the issues that are top of mind for club managers and directors.
This year it was clear that one of the biggest concerns (if not yet a challenge) is dramatic increases in data breach events Australia is experiencing and, of course, the consequences of those breaches.
The fact those breaches have now reached the club industry has brought it all very close to home.
In the past, we’ve written about the significant benefits being missed by holding on to legacy systems that remain functional–like access control systems–but are a couple of generations behind the current technology.
Updating and jumping to current technology will likely provide functions and features to make your systems more robust, more secure and easier to operate–and possibly even save on operational costs.
Access Control is a good example of the benefits of upgrading from a legacy system to current generation technology.
- Manage and control multiple sites.
- Intuitive user interface.
- Manage & control alarms from devices.
- Native support of 3rd party devices.
- Dynamic floor plans.
- Database partitioning – for multi-site.
- Built-in event history.
- Increases ways to integrate between various platforms.
- More robust reporting engines – data you want, how you want it.
- Integration of key cabinets.
Alone, these types of benefits make upgrading very attractive.
But, when the upgrade also mitigates the risks and impacts of system breaches – well, … the attractive may just become compelling.
It seems clear to us – and this was emphasised time and again when talking with many managers and directors at the AGE – the rising incidence and sophistication of cyber-attacks and data breaches means that the “set and forget” approach to systems (like Access Control Systems) raises both vulnerability and risk to much higher levels – perhaps even critical levels.
The pivotal role security systems hold in club operations means that any unauthorised access could have impacts on multiple levels – sensitive information can be compromised, privacy breached, wider systems integrity can be threatened and operations brought to a standstill.
Many newer security technology platforms are now including hardening guides for their systems and out-of-the-box hardening standards. As these are common global standards, it often simplifies the conversation with IT when having to discuss on how best to deploy the platform within your networks.
The newer platforms have information on their level of cybersecurity which significantly helps the business’s IT department more quickly understand and mitigate the potential cyberrisks.
Now, might be just the right time to start a conversation about how your security systems fit into the overall cyber-security plans being implemented by your IT team.
