The gap between perception and reality in the cybersecurity of video systems

Hanwha Vision Europe has conducted research on the cybersecurity of video surveillance systems, in which nine out of ten security and IT managers in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy believe they are well protected.

Video surveillance systems have become a key resource in multiple industries, where security and IT leaders are confident that their systems will be resilient to cyber threats.

Trust is high in companies of different sizes and sectors. The Research on the cybersecurity of video surveillance systems carried out by Hanwha Vision in these European countries, reveals that in Italy it reaches the 97%, while in Spain, although it is still high, down to 83%. In sectors such as finance, trust almost reaches 99%, although in data centers it drops to 80%.

However, Research reveals that this perceived safety does not always translate into good practices. Although the 92% of IT and security leaders believe their systems are protected from cybercrime, only the 23% Apply basic video security measures.

A cause for concern

Hanwha Vision's study also exposes a troubling lack of knowledge about key cybersecurity regulations, as the NIS2 Directive (Network and Information Systems Security, Second edition), in force since October 2024, and the Cyber Resilience Act (Cra).

In addition, Many organizations are not applying good practices aligned with these regulations, which compromises their ability to respond to cyberattacks on their security systems.

Less than half (47%) of respondents are aware of the NIS2 and only the 23% have heard of the CRA. Although large companies show greater awareness (45% on average), is still a low level if we take into account the increase in cyberattacks in 2024, which reached a record of 1.876 Weekly attacks in the third quarter of the year.

Basic but essential measures, such as changing default passwords or updating firmware, are frequently overlooked, leaving systems vulnerable to easily avoidable attacks.

Create a culture of cybersecurity

Beyond applying technical measures, It is essential to promote a culture of cybersecurity in companies. Key actions include securing physical access to network devices, Implement 802.1x certificate-based authentication and create user accounts with the least privileges possible.

However, The study reveals that many organizations are not actively promoting these best practices within their teams, which leaves them exposed.

Small businesses are the most vulnerable: only the 17% Apply these measures, in front of the 41% of large companies. Alarming data, as many companies fail to recover from the financial impact of a cyberattack.

The good news is that these weaknesses can be quickly corrected with concrete actions, How to conduct an audit to identify weaknesses in the system; apply good cybersecurity practices, How to restrict access and physically protect network devices.

It is also necessary to schedule regular security assessments and stay up-to-date on new threats and regulations; Empower the team with regular training sessions and work with trusted manufacturers and vendors who prioritize cybersecurity in their video systems.

"Taking key steps, Businesses can strengthen their video surveillance systems, Better protect your data and improve your resilience to cyber threats. Only then will the gap between the trust of security leaders and the reality of their current practices be closed.", Hanwha Vision stresses.

Other articles on Hanwha Vision