IT physical security: 8 readiness moves from Genetec

IT owns more than networks now. Buildings, cameras, access readers, and intercoms connect to the same fabric as apps and cloud. That’s why IT physical security needs a single plan. Genetec’s guidance lands at the right moment for a region racing toward smart cities, energy hubs, and mega events. Here are eight moves that raise readiness—without adding silos.

1) Tie security to business and IT strategy

Start with intent. Map risks, processes, and outcomes. Then select a unified platform that brings video, access control, ALPR, comms, forensics, and analytics under one console. Centralized operations improve collaboration across security, compliance, and IT. Better yet, the data stream—facility usage, incident patterns, dwell times—feeds safety improvements and smart resourcing.

2) Demand technical compatibility (and avoid lock-in)

Architect for choice. Favor open systems that talk to Active Directory, identity platforms, and your cloud. Open APIs let you add third-party tools and industry-specific apps. As needs change, you can extend the stack instead of ripping it out.

3) Put cybersecurity and compliance at the core

Treat physical security like any business-critical workload. Encrypt data in transit and at rest. Enforce granular roles, MFA, and least privilege. Keep full audit trails. Then align with recognized frameworks and certifications such as NIST CSF, ISO/IEC 27001, and SOC 2. Ask vendors to share their vulnerability management and disclosure practices. Transparency builds trust.

4) Specify reliability and performance up front

Downtime breaks safety. Therefore, write high-availability, SLA targets, and disaster-recovery requirements into the contract. Test failover. Size the system for growth in cameras, doors, and analytics. If you plan to add sites next year, design for that today.

5) Model total cost—and prove ROI

Go beyond license price. Include implementation, maintenance, storage, and training. Then quantify value: faster investigations, fewer truck rolls, less shrink, and leaner staffing through automation. A choice-driven path—cloud where it fits, on-prem where it pays—usually wins on both cost and control.

6) Check vendor depth and support

You will live with this partner. Review references across industries, roadmap cadence, and security track record. Next, probe support: 24/7 assistance, customer portal, documented playbooks, and named contacts for critical incidents. Continuous software updates should ship on a predictable rhythm.

7) Plan rollout and adoption like a product

Technology only works when people use it. Build an implementation plan with phases, pilots, and success metrics. Train operators and IT admins with hands-on sessions. Share quick-reference guides. Capture feedback, tune policies, and celebrate early wins. Adoption drives outcomes.

8) Test, measure, and iterate

Run a risk assessment before full deployment. Pilot in a live but low-risk area. Validate performance, compatibility, and usability. Measure mean time to detect, mean time to respond, and investigation speed. Then adjust. Repeat after each site or feature wave.

What convergence looks like in practice

In a unified design, a single identity follows the user from badge to browser. Threat intel informs both firewall policy and door rules. Camera analytics trigger IT tickets and SOC alerts. Meanwhile, operators rely on one console that blends physical events and cyber signals. As a result, investigations compress from hours to minutes—and audits become easier.

How to get started this quarter

First, pick two sites for a pilot and define three business outcomes. Second, align cyber and physical runbooks so alerts flow to the same queue. Third, harden the basics: MFA, encryption, patching, and role hygiene. Finally, brief leaders on ROI and risk reduction, not just feature lists.

Bottom line

The perimeter now includes people, places, and packets. By unifying platforms, setting clear standards, and planning adoption, IT leaders turn IT physical security into a force multiplier. The payoff shows up fast: fewer blind spots, quicker response, and stronger compliance—across every site you protect.

Check out our previous post, RDI paradigm shifts: how governments can adapt