Cybersecurity for FM’s

Quotes

“From the IT perspective, more building automation means more risk. So, their focus is to really kind of clamp down and make sure we’ve got security. The FM’s perspective when they think about building automation is greater control and building efficiency, because they’re trying to get good data out of it…if we start to understand each other a little bit better, I think we’ll get a little bit more of that alignment with each other. And FM’s can really start to see that they do play a role in the overall cybersecurity of their organization.” (24:24)

“One of the great things about FM’s is they’re life-long learners, and they continue to find great solutions to problems. Speed of change isn’t going to slow down. We’re going to continue to change. It’s going to go fast. So get out in front, get in front of that. Embrace the spotlight and lead us through.” (33:40)

Cybersecurity for FM’s

As a Facility Manager, your role is continually changing. Apart from addressing different situations each day, you also have to learn to adapt to a changing world. One of the most significant changes that FM’s have been dealing with in the recent past is technological advancement. As computers and technology have improved over the last 20 years, an FM’s role has leaned farther and farther into the integration of technology, and it doesn’t look like this will change any time soon.

FM’s have had to adapt the way they work as the world around them has digitized. Technological advancements have forced FM’s to educate themselves and keep up with the technology that allows them to work most efficiently.

Today, FM’s look to utilize technology to improve the quality of work they can do. By integrating automation systems, energy management systems, security systems, and much more, they can increase data reporting, access systems remotely, and most importantly, provide higher quality service for their clients and employers.

With the technological advancements and digitization of the FM role, cybersecurity has secured its place as one of the new elements of an FM job. While many FM’s are initially averse to the idea of cybersecurity, its importance is paramount. Risk management has always been a primary role of FM’s, and security – including cybersecurity – falls well within the bounds of risk management. A breach could take your employer or client offline for an unknown amount of time – something that can be costly beyond belief. While cybersecurity might fall primarily under IT’s umbrella, FM’s maintain a partial responsibility.

If cybersecurity is IT’s responsibility, why should FM’s care about it?

Yes, cybersecurity does fall well within the bounds of IT, but this does not mean that FM’s are absolved of any responsibilities here. Both departments must work together to ensure the most secure systems possible.

Often, FM’s think they are at odds with the IT department, which has been true at times. An FM’s priorities are operational technologies that were mentioned earlier. They want to get into their systems remotely, and they want access for multiple users. This seems to run directly against the IT department’s priorities, which are confidentiality and security. When an FM understands cybersecurity and how to keep their systems safe and secure, they can work with IT to ensure that systems work for both parties and maximize the benefit for the company.

“From the IT perspective, more building automation means more risk. So, their focus is to really kind of clamp down and make sure we’ve got security. The FM’s perspective when they think about building automation is greater control and building efficiency, because they’re trying to get good data out of it…if we start to understand each other a little bit better, I think we’ll get a little bit more of that alignment with each other. And FM’s can really start to see that they do play a role in the overall cybersecurity of their organization.” (24:24)

What do FM’s need to know about cybersecurity?

There are two main areas for FM’s to focus on with cybersecurity. First, they should evaluate the security of their FM systems and their operations and maintenance systems. Understand the vulnerabilities that these systems possess and perform risk assessments to identify threats. By regularly monitoring systems, FM’s are more likely to notice abnormalities quickly.

The second-place FM’s can focus is in the design and acquisition phases. They need to understand the cyber requirements for their technology to be implemented throughout the buildout. It is equally important to ensure security while dealing with contractors. They need to maintain a level of protection as contractors often have access to important information and become a risk themselves.

Are you interested in upping your game as an FM and adapting to a digitized world? Check out ProFM today to get started!