Advanced video-surveillance systems are a must-have for on-premise security. Businesses are interested and investing in IP cameras more than ever, and while these cameras don’t require hardware to record information, there are risks that cannot be ignored. Hackers are constantly looking for every possible vulnerability, and ensuring security of the entire surveillance system is more than necessary. In this post, we are discussing more on how businesses can do better with security of IP cameras.
Firmware updates are a must
Manufacturers are constantly updating security of their IP cameras, by fixing bugs and issues. Each time a security vulnerability is discovered, manufacturers will offer an update to the firmware. If you are not used to updating your firmware, make that a habit. Firmware updates are necessary and absolutely important for ensuring that your IP cameras are in sync with the manufacturer’s version. Firmware updates can be easily installed from admin account, and you can do that on a standard browser. Mostly, manufacturers will send email for updates, but you can also check their website.
Watch default admin username and password
Another aspect that managers often ignore is the need to change the default admin password and username. This is a must for two reasons. First, hackers don’t need to be a genius to hack into your IP cameras, and secondly, it leaves room for misuse and mismanagement of data. To change default admin username and password, go to the website of the manufacturer for details, or log into your IP camera on a browser and do the changes.
Follow strong password rules
A strong password is always a long one, but just because you have a long password doesn’t mean it’s strong. Confused? Well, strong passwords need to have at least 10 to 12 characters, but you also need to use a mix of characters. Uppercase & lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers should be used for creating a password for your IP cameras. Also, consider changing passwords as frequently as possible, and never use old passwords.
Train your people
Finally, consider who has access to passwords and resources related to video-surveillance systems. More often than not, privileged users and admins end up misusing data, and that’s not always intentional. Train your people on data security and how they can protect IP cameras from hackers and cybercriminals. A proactive stance towards cybersecurity and video-surveillance systems is the best step forward for every business.
