Gautam Vij is CRO at AlertEnterprise, a leading provider of digital identity and cybersecurity solutions.
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As more and more businesses rely on technology to operate, cybersecurity has become a top priority. Many organizations have implemented zero-trust and GRC (governance, risk management and compliance) frameworks to protect against cyber threats. However, physical security is often overlooked as a crucial component of these frameworks. In this article, we'll explore why physical security is the missing piece in true zero trust and GRC.
First, let's define the terms. Zero trust is a security model that assumes that every device, user and network component is a potential threat. Under this model, access to resources is granted on a need-to-know basis, and all activity is monitored and audited. GRC refers to a set of processes and controls that an organization implements to ensure it meets legal, regulatory and industry standards.
In today's digital age, physical security is more important than ever. With the increasing number of security breaches and cyberattacks, businesses must be vigilant in protecting their physical assets. A single physical security breach can compromise an organization's data, intellectual property and reputation. One of the key ways to achieve this is through physical identity and access management (PIAM). I believe that PIAM is essential to achieving physical security, compliance, digital transformation, true zero trust, policy-based access compliance, auditing and workforce and workplace experience.
Physical Security
PIAM is essential for ensuring the physical security of a business. By implementing a robust PIAM system, businesses can control and monitor access to their facilities and assets. This ensures that only authorized personnel are granted access to restricted areas, reducing the risk of theft, sabotage or other unauthorized activities. By having a clear and comprehensive record of who has accessed certain areas, businesses can also more easily investigate any incidents that may occur.
Compliance
Compliance with regulations and standards related to physical security is another critical reason why PIAM is required. In many industries, such as healthcare and finance, there are strict regulations around the protection of physical assets. PIAM helps businesses meet these requirements by providing the necessary controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive areas.
Digital Transformation
PIAM is also an essential component of digital transformation. As more businesses move toward cloud-based systems and digital platforms, they need to ensure that their physical assets are adequately protected. By implementing a PIAM system, businesses can easily manage access to their facilities and assets in a digital environment. This allows them to integrate physical security with other digital systems and ensures that their assets are secure in the digital world.
True Zero Trust
Zero trust is an increasingly popular approach to security that assumes that no user or device can be trusted by default and grants case-by-case access based on various factors such as user behavior, location and device status. Using PIAM to manage access is a critical component of true zero trust, as it enables businesses to implement strict controls over who has access to their facilities and assets.
Policy-Based Access Compliance
PIAM enables businesses to implement policy-based access compliance, which means that access to certain areas is granted based on dynamic policies that reside in your identity or directory store and can be applied to the physical infrastructure in real time, automating physical access. This ensures that access is only granted to authorized personnel and is based on a set of rules and policies that have been established by the business. By using PIAM to implement policy-based access compliance, businesses reduce the risk of unauthorized access to their facilities and assets.
Auditing
Another critical reason why PIAM is required is for auditing purposes. By implementing a PIAM system, businesses can easily track who has accessed certain areas and when. This ensures that they have a comprehensive record of access to their facilities and assets, which is essential for auditing and compliance purposes. With this record, businesses can more easily identify any issues that arise and investigate them further.
Employee Experience
Finally, PIAM can also contribute to a positive employee experience. By implementing a robust PIAM system, businesses provide their employees with a secure and safe working environment. This can help to increase employee satisfaction and productivity, as they feel more confident in their workplace.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cybersecurity policies must incorporate physical identity and access management not only for true security, including zero-trust policies and GRC, but also for successful digital transformation and a positive workplace experience.
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