How Cloud-Based Technology Can Scale And Secure Supply Chain Logistics

By  Adam Jeffcot, freelance writer.

33 billion records were exposed between 2018 and 2019 due to security breaches. Your supply chain logistics company warehouses are home to digital and physical assets that you must secure.

How can cloud-based technology scale and secure supply chain logistics?

Keep reading to learn about the leading cloud-based technologies. They can provide more convenience in daily operations, improve security, and create the opportunity to build a sophisticated and fully-integrated system.

Cloud-Based Technologies To Secure Your Supply Chain Logistics

You need to secure your supply chain logistics to reduce liability, prevent theft, and optimize convenience for daily workers who use your security system. Here, we will discuss cloud-based technologies' opportunities for scaling and securing supply chain logistics.

Mobile-Oriented Security

Mobile-oriented security is convenient and helps to spare your business unnecessary costs. With traditional systems, businesses must allocate expenses towards replacing keys, keycards, and fobs that employees need to perform daily operations. In a cloud-based system, mobile technology is used in place of physical access keys, allowing businesses to reduce waste and conserve financial resources.

Mobile access control operates using digital access keys stored on users’ mobile devices. New hires must simply download an application on their mobile device that will allow them to use mobile credentials to enter the building. Your employees will not have to wait for weeks or months to be handed a keycard or fob.

Mobile access technology increases convenience for your staff as they perform daily tasks and move throughout the building. Your team will not have to withdraw their mobile device from their rucksack or pocket to enter the building. All they must do is wave their hand over the access reader. The motion of their hand will then trigger BlueTooth, WiFi, and remote communication with their mobile device to grant them access. By using three methods of communication, the system ensures that the user enters on their first attempt. Speeding up the entry process can make the most of your workers’ time and maximize productivity.

Integrating Video Security And Access Technology

One of the major flaws in an access control system is the potential for misappropriated access credentials. If a third party manages to steal access credentials for your building, they can easily enter and steal valuable inventory from your logistics location.

To ensure that misappropriated access credentials cause no losses, you can implement identity verification at your building’s entrance. You can integrate video security and access technology in a single device with a video-based business intercom system. The intercom reader comes with built-in touchless access control and a video camera.

Your security staff can easily verify the identity of employees and visitors entering your building by viewing both access logs and video information on a single interface. By rolling these features into one platform, you can provide a more user-friendly experience for your security staff when verifying identity.

Security Integrations For A Cloud-Based System

A cloud-based security system gives you a platform from which to build a fully integrated system. Many software integrations allow you to expand the function of your security investments and do more with what you’ve got:

• Visitor management - you need to keep an accurate record of visitors in your building. Since log books are often unreliable, you can use a visitor management system to automate the process. When a visitor comes to your building, they can fill out a digital form, allowing them to use temporary access credentials to enter your building. Once they leave the building, the system revokes these credentials.
  
  
• Smart building management - you can use the internet of things to establish building management triggers based on access control events. If a user enters a room, the IoT devices such as heating, lighting, and technology will switch on. When they leave, the IoT devices will switch off to conserve energy and expenses for your logistics business.

Reducing Liabilities In High-Risk Areas

You need to restrict access to high-risk areas in your logistics warehouse to avoid liability should an injury occur. By installing smart locks to protect these areas, you can ensure that a non-qualified individual does not enter and sustain an injury. Those with clearance can quickly enter using touchless access credentials.

Coordinating Cyber And Physical Security Strategies

When implementing a cloud-based security system, it’s essential to protect these cloud-based features from interception. If a third party gets hold of cloud-based remote operations, this could be highly costly for your business. Consider merging cyber and physical security teams and implementing cybersecurity software to protect your physical security system from interception.

Integrating Cybersecurity Policies Into Physical Security Hardware

Zero-trust is a cybersecurity policy that does not imply the trustworthiness of each user who can access the network. Each user gains varying levels of permissions based on tasks. This helps keep digital assets secure. Likewise, each visitor and employee in your building should not be able to access sensitive assets and data. So, apply zero-trust to your physical security hardware and use smart door locks to protect these areas.

Summary

If you’re looking for ways to improve the security of your logistics warehouse, you need to consider the value of cloud-based security technologies. Assess the current defects and vulnerabilities in your existing security system and whether these security technologies could fill some gaps in your current strategy.