A locked door used to be enough. Today, that same door might be connected to an app, a cloud dashboard, and a dozen other devices — and every one of those connections is a potential way in. Hikvision’s Cyber Security Director Rob Janssens argues that intrusion alarm systems have quietly become IT infrastructure, and it’s time security teams started treating them that way.
Table of Contents
From Isolated Panels to Always-Connected Networks
For decades, intrusion systems were simple: a control panel, a few sensors, a keypad. Their isolation from the wider internet made them inherently low-risk. That era is over. Over 80% of newly deployed security systems are now network-connected, integrating with video, access control, mobile apps, and cloud services — effectively turning them into always-on IT assets that happen to detect intrusions.
Where the Real Cyber Risk Hides
| Risk Area | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Unsecured remote access | Weak mobile app encryption can let attackers intercept disarm signals |
| Default credentials | Unchanged passwords are an open door for intruders |
| Flat networks | A single compromised device can expose an entire system |
| Cloud/P2P misconfigurations | Poor visibility into cloud settings creates blind spots |
| Delayed firmware updates | Known vulnerabilities remain exploitable for longer |
The most dangerous exposures rarely sit at the sensor level anymore — they emerge at the intersection of panel, app, and cloud, where a single weak link can ripple across multiple sites, accounts, and credentials.
Security Is a Shared Responsibility
Neither manufacturers nor installers can secure a connected system alone. Manufacturers must own device architecture, firmware security, and cloud APIs; installers must handle network design, configuration, and ongoing maintenance. When either side skips a step — weak default baselines from manufacturers, or improperly implemented encryption by installers — the whole deployment’s resilience suffers.
What Secure-by-Design Actually Looks Like
Aligned with frameworks like ENISA’s Secure by Design Playbook and ETSI EN 303 645, a genuinely secure intrusion system should ship with mandatory activation (no default passwords), encrypted management paths, signed firmware with secure boot, role-based access control, detailed audit logging, and clear vulnerability disclosure processes. Hikvision has built its platforms around these principles, treating cybersecurity as a core product feature rather than an afterthought.
Lifecycle Security: The Risk That Doesn’t Expire
Many failures surface years after installation, when systems are forgotten or left unpatched. Clear end-of-support timelines, simple update mechanisms, and proactive vulnerability notifications are essential to prevent installers from unknowingly inheriting long-term technical debt.
For more on the broader security frameworks referenced here, Wikipedia’s overview of IoT security offers useful background. For more cybersecurity and physical security industry insights, check our technology section.
FAQs
Why are intrusion alarm systems now considered cyber risks?
Modern systems connect to apps, cloud services, and networks, turning them into IT assets vulnerable to remote attacks.
Who is responsible for securing these connected systems?
Both manufacturers and installers share responsibility — one builds secure defaults, the other implements and maintains them.
