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Cybersecurity experts and agencies are urging customers to replace VPNs with secure edge devices that are cloud connected and software defined to ensure patches are always up to date. Neeve Secure Edge is exactly that.
As the smart buildings sector becomes increasingly connected and remote work becomes the norm, secure remote access to operational technology (OT) systems for real estate owners and operators has become a necessity. Unsecured access to a building network can lead not just to risk of data loss and reputational tarnish, but OT systems like the BMS, HVAC and elevators could be compromised or even encrypted making buildings un-occupiable.
Real estate organizations commonly rely on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and desktop sharing apps like TeamViewer to facilitate remote access. However, these technologies are increasingly the targets of hackers as they provide an easy point of entry for ransomware attacks and data breaches. Read more to understand these risks and learn about a more secure alternative: modern cloud-based remote access platforms.
VPNs have been a popular choice for remote access to OT systems in smart buildings for remote access and device-to-device connections due to their ability to create secure, encrypted connections between devices over the internet. However due to their popularity, and their architecture, they are popular targets of hackers such as the Fortinet exploit by the Chinese government. While most real estate systems are not the targets of nation states, these common vulnerabilities can be exploited by any bad actor. VPNs are a major exploit for building systems and can expose owners and operators to significant cybersecurity risks, including.
Remote desktop sharing apps are even worse. Desktop sharing apps, such as TeamViewer, allow users to remotely access and control computers over the internet. These are often installed on the BMS or building access control head-ends for remote access by vendors and facilities teams. While these apps can be convenient, they are notoriously insecure, so much so that the parent company of TeamViewer was hacked and all their user information was stolen. Some of the challenges with desktop sharing applications are:
To mitigate the risks associated with VPNs and desktop sharing apps, real estate owners and operators should consider cloud-based remote access. These platforms complement a zero-trust architecture by providing a single secure tunnel from known cloud infrastructure, instead of multiple connections per user connections with VPNs. This approach offers numerous advantages:
In today’s hyperconnected world, real estate owners and operators must carefully consider the cybersecurity risks associated with remote access to operational technology systems in smart buildings. While VPNs and desktop sharing apps like TeamViewer have traditionally been popular choices for remote access, they come with significant security vulnerabilities that can expose organizations to data breaches and other cyber threats.
To address these risks, real estate owners and operators should consider adopting a cloud-based remote access solution that uses bookended certificates for enhanced security. This approach offers a more secure, scalable, and manageable solution that enables organizations to provide remote access to their OT systems in smart buildings without compromising on security.
By making the shift to a cloud-based remote access solution with bookended certificates, real estate owners and operators can effectively mitigate the risks associated with VPNs and desktop sharing apps, protecting their critical OT systems in smart buildings and ensuring the continued success and security of their operations.
Learning more about cloud-based remote access with Neeve Zero-Trust Remote Access.