What is Cyber-Physical Security?

Cyber-Physical Security (CPS) refers to the integrated protection of both physical systems and the digital networks that control them. In the context of commercial and corporate real estate, this involves securing building management systems (BMS), access control systems, HVAC systems, lighting, and other automated services managed through digital networks. As IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) converge within these environments, cyber-physical security becomes a critical concern, addressing vulnerabilities that could lead to severe consequences if exploited.

Cyber-Physical Security ensures the safety, reliability, and functionality of interconnected physical and digital systems. This approach recognizes that physical and cyber threats are increasingly interrelated, with cyberattacks capable of disrupting physical operations and physical breaches potentially compromising digital networks.

1. Integrated Security Systems: Cyber-Physical Security encompasses both physical security measures (e.g., surveillance cameras, access control) and cybersecurity measures (e.g., firewalls, encryption) to protect the entire infrastructure.
2. Threat Detection and Response: Continuous monitoring for both cyber and physical threats enables real-time detection and rapid response to potential incidents.
3. Access Control: Strict control over access to both physical spaces and digital systems is essential. This includes role-based access control (RBAC), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and biometric verification.
4. Resilience and Redundancy: Building resilience into both physical and digital systems ensures they can withstand and recover from attacks, supported by robust incident response plans.
5. Convergence of IT and OT Security: Cyber-Physical Security requires a unified approach to managing both IT and OT environments, recognizing the interdependencies between digital and physical systems.

The growing complexity of modern buildings

Modern commercial and corporate real estate increasingly relies on complex, interconnected systems to manage everything from energy consumption to security and tenant services. These systems include:

• Building Management Systems (BMS): Centralized systems that manage a building’s mechanical, lighting, electrical, fire, and plumbing operations, crucial for maintaining comfort, safety, and efficiency.
• Security & Access Control Systems: Systems that monitor or regulate access to different parts of a building, often integrated with digital identity management platforms.
• Smart Sensors and IoT Devices: Devices that monitor various parameters such as temperature and occupancy, providing data to optimize building operations.

The increasing reliance on digital technologies introduces new vulnerabilities. A cyberattack on a building’s network could disrupt operations, compromise tenant safety, or result in significant financial losses. Conversely, a physical breach could lead to unauthorized access to critical systems, enabling further cyberattacks.

Key threats to Cyber-Physical Security in real estate

1. Unauthorized Access: Unauthorized individuals gaining physical or digital access to a building’s systems can lead to theft, data breaches, or operational disruptions.
2. Ransomware Attacks: Cyberattacks that lock down building management systems can halt operations, potentially causing significant disruptions and financial loss.
3. IoT Vulnerabilities: The proliferation of IoT devices in smart buildings increases the attack surface, as many of these devices lack robust security measures.
4. Insider Threats: Employees or contractors with access to both physical and digital systems can pose a significant risk, especially if they are disgruntled or compromised.

Similarities between Cyber-Physical Security and OT Cybersecurity

1. Focus on Critical Infrastructure: Both Cyber-Physical Security and OT cybersecurity prioritize protecting systems essential for safety, operational continuity, and efficiency (such as HVAC systems, elevators, and fire suppression systems).
2. Integration of IT and OT: Both disciplines require a convergence of IT and OT security practices, recognizing that vulnerabilities in one domain can have cascading effects in the other.
3. Resilience and Redundancy: Both areas emphasize the need for systems resilient to attacks and capable of quick recovery, involving redundant systems, robust incident response plans, and regular testing of security measures.

Differences between Cyber-Physical Security and OT Cybersecurity

1. Scope of Protection: While OT cybersecurity focuses primarily on the security of operational technology systems, Cyber-Physical Security has a broader scope, encompassing both the physical security of a building (such as access control and surveillance) and the cybersecurity of its digital systems.
2. Physical Security Integration: Cyber-Physical Security integrates traditional physical security measures (such as locks, alarms, and cameras) with cybersecurity practices, a focus less emphasized in OT cybersecurity.
3. User Interaction: Cyber-Physical Security often directly addresses human factors, such as managing access for tenants, visitors, and staff in a commercial building. OT cybersecurity, while also involving user interaction, is more focused on securing the operation of machinery and equipment with limited direct human interface.

Cyber-Physical Security in smart buildings

Smart buildings are prime examples where Cyber-Physical Security is critical. Systems like lighting, HVAC, access control, and energy management are interconnected and controlled via digital networks. Cyber-Physical Security ensures:

• Data Integrity and Confidentiality: All data generated by IoT devices and BMS systems is encrypted and protected from unauthorized access, preventing potential breaches that could disrupt building operations.
• Physical and Cyber Threat Detection: Integrated security systems monitor both physical access points (such as doors and elevators) and digital access points (such as network gateways), providing comprehensive security coverage.

For instance, in a corporate office tower, Cyber-Physical Security might involve using facial recognition for access control while ensuring the network transmitting this data is secure from cyber threats. Integrating SASE and ZTNA within this framework ensures both physical and digital threats are addressed in a unified manner.

Both ZTNA and SASE are critical to achieving and sustaining strong CPS. ZTNA is critically important to safeguarding remote access to OT. SASE provides a secure gateway separating your OT networks from the internet while maintaining connectivity to critical cloud-based resources.

Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) and Cyber-Physical Security

ZTNA is a critical component of Cyber-Physical Security, particularly in environments like commercial real estate, where the boundary between physical and digital systems is increasingly blurred. The core principle of ZTNA—“never trust, always verify”—is directly applicable.

• Access Control: ZTNA ensures that every request for access to a building’s systems, whether physical or digital, is authenticated and authorized, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure.
• Micro-Segmentation: By applying ZTNA principles, buildings can implement micro-segmentation of their networks, ensuring that a breach in one part of the system does not compromise the entire building’s operations.

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Cyber-Physical Security

SASE solutions like Neeve Secure Edge integrate networking and security services into a unified cloud-based model, particularly useful in Cyber-Physical Security for modern buildings.

• Edge Security: SASE extends security to the network’s edge, ensuring that all data traffic between physical systems (such as HVAC controls or security cameras) and digital networks is encrypted and monitored. This is essential in buildings where devices and systems are distributed across a wide area.
• Unified Management: SASE simplifies the management of both physical and digital security by providing a single platform for monitoring and controlling access, ensuring consistent application of security policies across all systems.

Cyber-Physical Security in commercial and corporate real estate represents a holistic approach to protecting both physical infrastructure and the digital networks that control them. As buildings become more connected and reliant on technology, integrating physical and cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly critical. 

Cyber-Physical Security aligns closely with the principles of Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), providing a comprehensive framework that addresses the unique challenges of modern buildings. Neeve Secure Edge is the leading SASE platform in commercial real estate for operating ZTNA for OT. By focusing on the convergence of IT and OT security, Neeve’s platform for Cyber-Physical Security ensures that real estate assets are protected against a wide range of threats, safeguarding both the physical and digital elements of today’s smart buildings.