surveillance


in practice. For example, an operator may be able to view live video but not export footage, while a contractor may only access a subset of cameras for a defined time window.


More advanced systems also support time-bound or task-based access, automatically revoking permissions once a job is complete, reducing the reliance on manual oversight.


Crucially, this is not just about restricting access, but about enabling accountability. Security and surveillance systems should provide clear visibility of who has accessed what, and why, so actions can be traced and understood.


That level of control is increasingly expected, particularly in environments aligning with frameworks such as the Cyber Assurance of Physical Security Systems (CAPSS).


Safeguard data integrity across your system


The value of surveillance lies in the reliability of the information it provides. As systems become more integrated, data flows continuously between devices, platforms and users. Each transmission point presents an opportunity for interception or manipulation if not properly secured.


This makes encryption a fundamental


...for city-wide cybersecurity


requirement, not an optional feature. It ensures that data sent between authenticated devices, sensors, servers and workstations is uniquely encoded, so that even if it is intercepted, it cannot be read or altered without the appropriate keys.


In practice, this means applying end-to- end encryption across system communications, using secure protocols for device-to-server and server-to-client interactions, and ensuring encryption standards are regularly reviewed and kept aligned with current best practice.


The objective is simple: even if data is accessed, it cannot be exploited or altered. For operators, confidence in the data directly underpins confidence in the decisions made from it.


Adapt security to evolving threats


Security and surveillance systems are long-term operational assets. Their risk profile evolves as infrastructure expands and new threats emerge. Cybersecurity, therefore, cannot be a one-time consideration.


Technology providers play an essential role here. Ongoing support through regular updates, active vulnerability management and alignment with recognised standards should be built into the offering, not treated as an add-on.


© CITY SECURITY MAGAZINE – SUMMER 2026


For city authorities, this reinforces the importance of selecting partners who can sustain cyber resilience throughout the system's lifecycle, not just at deployment.


Protect the infrastructure cities rely on


Surveillance now plays a central role in how cities operate. When systems are secure, well-managed and resilient, they provide the clarity needed to support effective decision-making and rapid response. When they are not, uncertainty is introduced at precisely the point where it cannot be afforded.


For decades, surveillance has helped keep physical environments safe and secure. Today, as the systems that underpin society become increasingly connected, it must extend that role into the cyber domain.


Cyber resilience in surveillance is no longer a peripheral issue. It is fundamental to keeping the systems society depends on safe, secure and operational.


Jonathon Squires, Head of Product Strategy at Synectics


www.synecticsglobal.com


www.citysecuritymagazine.com


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