For those in the IT and access control world, credentials are one of the most stressful aspects of your job. Not only are these credentials, whether physical or virtual, easy to lose, misplace, or even worse, have compromised, but they also pose a persistent security risk because they provide access to your building and systems. One of the biggest questions we get on the access control side is how to combat credential theft while maintaining a physical security posture for your building or campus. In this blog, we will explore the world of credentials and show you how an Accesio access control system can help reduce security risks at your commercial property.
What is credential theft?
Credential theft is one of the most common security threats that corporate campuses face, and it can include anything from stealing employee badges, logins, or digital keys to gaining access to your building or internal intranet. The goal is to gain access to your facility, either virtually by accessing your network or physically by entering secure, non-public-facing areas of your building. Some of the more common issues that we see include: former employees retaining their badge and having access to your building, someone stealing an ID badge and RFID access card from a table or backpack in a public area such as a coffee shop or on transit, badge cloning at a conference with a radio device like a Flipper Zero or more brute force attempts like tailgating or impersonation of a cleaning worker or a delivery driver at your front desk.
How do cyber risks become physical risks with credential theft?
Compromised credentials can threaten both the cyber and physical security of your company. When someone has your company's cyber credentials, they can create physical RFID cards to access buildings and grant themselves access to restricted rooms such as server areas, sensitive material storage, or even grant full campus access for off-hours. This is why so many companies are moving to combine physical and digital credentials through systematic upgrades to better protect your building, materials, and data, using innovative solutions that can control and track access to your company's most sensitive areas.
How to build better habits
One of the most important aspects of credential security is developing clear security protocols that your staff will understand and follow. This is not just another corporate security training session; instead, you should look to integrate your security protocols within your company culture. For instance, working with staff to develop clear policies and training for new hires that emphasize the need for safe storage of physical access cards, limit the sharing of PINs across teams, and keeping company credentials secure will do wonders over the long term for your company's security. When the technology, such as a modernized access control system, is supported by good processes, your company will be able to handle bad actors or security threats promptly.
Access Control features can help reduce your company’s risk profile
Access control is one of the key aspects of keeping your company safe and sound, both physically and cyber-secure. A modern access control system will give you the command and control you need to maintain your building’s security posture. Features such as role-based access to specific floors, multi-factor authentication for physical assets and controlled permissions can give you seamless control over the most secure areas of your building. Other features such as mobile credentials, automatic deactivation, and time-based schedules will give your staff the access it needs and give you the flexibility to increase or decrease access for contractors, employees who are acting in a new position, or employees who are on a special project or tiger team. On the audit side, detailed access logs, including tap-in and tap-out data, will allow you to trace back when issues arise and provide real-time alerts when something out of the ordinary occurs, so you can respond quickly and efficiently.
In today’s security landscape, blending cyber and physical security is a smart, prudent approach for your building. This is why working with a company that understands the importance of credentials and how to mitigate the potential threats posed by stolen credentials is so important. At Accesio, we have been working with Alberta-based businesses for years to provide robust, flexible access control systems that reduce potential exposure and better protect people, property, and sensitive data. If you are interested in learning more about how Accesio can level up your access control systems and better protect your company, now is the time to reach out.
