WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Increasingly, you need to keep your multifamily residents and staff secure. You don’t want to cut security corners by signing with a service provider that is not providing multifaceted cybersecurity protections.
At a minimum, your internet provider should do the following four things:
EMBED A SECURITY FRAMEWORK IN NETWORK PRACTICES
1
The network practices implemented by Tier 1 internet providers are critical. You should choose a known and reputable multifamily provider that demonstrates how it embeds cybersecurity into the services it offers.
2
GO BEYOND A NETWORKING-ONLY CYBERSECURITY APPROACH
But networking safeguards will only take security so far. Your internet provider also needs to insert controls where on-premises equipment meets the network. Equipment-level security can also curb unauthorized traffic on smart devices that either you or your residents have installed. Knowing that such cybersecurity mechanisms are built into the high-speed—preferably fiber—WiFi installed in the property can allay many of your residents’ internet security concerns.
3
PERFORM CONSTANT VULNERABILITY MONITORING AND TESTING
The ability to detect and mitigate threats swiftly is essential. Internet providers should have robust controls and processes to monitor for suspicious threat indicators and take action to mitigate risks.
BE VIGILANT ABOUT INSTALLING SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE UPDATES Tier 1 internet providers with robust cybersecurity protections can monitor for vulnerabilities and add a layer of security by issuing automated patches to their equipment at residential communities and businesses as soon as updates to hardware (firmware) or software are available. This is particularly important when smart devices are part of a community’s operations, such as smart locks, smart thermostats, or smart security cameras. Built-in protections such as continuously updated firmware/security controls, secure booting, and firewall support to keep residents’ connections secure.
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