But this begs the question: just how secure is your commercial HVAC system? After all, no one wants to be the victim of hackers or other malicious intruders.
Automation is a rising trend in multiple sectors and industries. Thus, it no longer matters what type of facility you own, run, or oversee – chances are your systems are becoming increasingly integrated and automated. Automatic commercial HVAC systems can turn the lights on and off as your employees go about their daily tasks and also monitor environmental conditions in critical areas of your building such as the server room holding critical data. But this begs the question: just how secure is your commercial HVAC system? After all, no one wants to be the victim of hackers or other malicious intruders.
Facility Managers
Most of the time, facility managers are responsible for maintaining the security and comfort in the physical space of a commercial building. Whether it is an office, a data center, or somewhere else, keeping employees and visitors safe and comfortable is vital to your bottom line. Although automated commercial HVAC systems can provide a tremendous boost in this area, it still falls on the shoulders of human operators to make sure everything continues to go smoothly.
Ensuring Security
Fortunately, ensuring the security of your automated commercial HVAC system doesn’t have to be more complicated than verifying that your cybersecurity measures are up to date.
Create a Plan: The first step to securing your automated commercial HVAC systems against any potential intrusion is to draw up plans for safeguarding them. Building automation is an excellent way to increase the comfort and efficiency of your premises, but you need to set down rules about how and when it should be accessed and modified. Whether you have in-house technicians or hire expert contractors to perform updates and conduct repairs, everyone should know the guidelines and procedures you have established.
Restrict Access: Another way to increase the security of your automated commercial HVAC systems is to restrict access. What this means is that the technicians will have to come to your building, and cannot make any changes offsite. Once they are inside you should have someone escort them to ensure they are going where they are supposed to go – to inspect equipment and machinery instead of entering areas protecting critical or sensitive information.
Protect Data: Protecting the data of your employees and customers should be one of your highest priorities. In case something should go wrong, data centers should enhance the security measures they use to guarantee that any confidential information remains so. For instance, don’t allow duplicates passwords, and keep in touch with your service provider about changes in access credentials whenever the need arises.
Crockett Facilities Can Help!
Crockett Facilities Services, Inc. (CFSI) is committed to helping building owners, property managers, engineers, and facility professionals lower their operating expenses through HVAC preventive maintenance. We can develop a cost-effective, customized preventive maintenance plan for your commercial building that will provide you with peace of mind, improved comfort, and energy savings.
To learn more about the importance of HVAC Preventive Maintenance, please contact us at 202.600.2787 or sales@crockett-facilities.com. Our PM contract customers receive priority service with 24/7 emergency service in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.