Cybersecurity Awareness Month for Business Security Systems

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the time to review your business security system the same way you review laptops and email. Cameras, recorders, access control, alarm communicators, apps, and cloud accounts are all connected, so check who has access, which devices still get updates, how remote access works, and where video is stored. Add a phishing refresher for staff, because one click can undo the rest. Sting Alarm helps Las Vegas and Phoenix businesses review and upgrade their security systems.

The National Cybersecurity Alliance theme for 2026 is "Don't Make It Easy for Them." It recommends strong passwords, multifactor authentication, recognizing and reporting scams, and keeping software updated. For connected security technology, also review default credentials, shared administrator accounts, inactive accounts, unsupported software, and unnecessary network exposure. Coordinate any network or firewall change with IT so security functions are not interrupted.

Why connected security devices belong on the review

Palo Alto Networks' 2025 Device Security Threat Report (published October 2025) analyzed more than 27 million connected devices belonging to 1,803 enterprise network customers. It found that 32.5% of devices operated outside IT control and that 77.74% of networks had poor segmentation, and it named office cameras among the riskiest device types.

Those findings describe large enterprise networks, not every local business, but the lesson applies to any size: security hardware is part of your technology environment. Someone inside the business should own the account roster, updates, network coordination, and offboarding.

1. Know what is connected and who owns it

Start with a simple inventory:

• List cameras, recorders, access control equipment, alarm communicators, and related network devices.
• Record each item's model, location, firmware version, and support status when available.
• List cloud accounts, mobile apps, and third-party integrations.
• Assign owners for accounts, updates, vendor contact, and incident follow-up.

Include both local device logins and cloud logins. Securing one does not secure the other.

2. Replace shared access with named accounts

Change any factory-default passwords still in use. Where the platform supports it, give each manager their own login instead of one shared administrator password. Named accounts make it easy to remove access when roles change and to tie activity to a person. Use unique passwords stored in a business-approved password manager.

Turn on multifactor authentication for administrator and remote-access accounts. Alarm.com supports two-factor authentication through the app or customer website: when someone signs in from a new device, they need a password and a verification code. Review the trusted device list too, because trusted devices may skip the second step.

3. Remove access when roles change

Offboarding should cover more than a returned key or badge. Review app logins, remote video access, alarm user codes, access credentials, administrator accounts, and vendor access. A manager responsible for one site may not need footage or door access across every location.

On supported Alarm.com commercial access control accounts, administrators can add or remove credentials in the app or website, and user and access history reports help compare the active roster with current employees and contractors.

4. Check software support and update responsibility

Cameras, recorders, and controllers run firmware. Decide who watches manufacturer notices, who approves and installs updates, and how critical updates are handled. A device may keep working after support ends, but the manufacturer may stop fixing new security problems. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency recommends installing security updates promptly. If equipment is no longer supported, talk with your security provider and IT team about replacement.

5. Review network access and video storage

Some cloud-managed platforms use a vendor relay and need no inbound port forwarding. Others use a direct connection. Ask whether any inbound ports are open, whether they are still needed, and how remote access is logged.

Ask IT whether security devices are separated from point-of-sale systems, office computers, and other sensitive systems. Segmentation limits what a compromised device can reach.

Do not assume cloud video means all footage is in the cloud. Confirm the retention period, whether offsite storage is included, how staff export footage, and what remains if a recorder is damaged or offline.

Phishing: the threat that skips the alarm system

Phishing does not break a door or trip a sensor. It arrives in an inbox disguised as a vendor, a bank, or an executive, and tricks someone into handing over a password, payment, or system access. A stolen login can open the same security apps and cloud accounts you just locked down.

Common types of phishing

• Standard phishing: a generic email that pretends to be a bank, shipping carrier, or software company and links to a fake login page.
• Spear phishing: a targeted message that feels personal, such as an invoice from a vendor you really use.
• CEO fraud: a message impersonating an executive that pressures staff to send money or data quickly.
• Vishing and smishing: phone calls and text messages that push you to a fake website or ask for sensitive information.
• Brand spoofing: copied logos and lookalike domains used to make a fake message look legitimate.

Red flags to watch for

• Unusual sender addresses or domain names
• Urgent or threatening language
• Unexpected attachments or links
• Poor grammar or spelling
• Requests for passwords, payment, or financial information

When in doubt, contact the sender using a phone number or website you already know is real. Train employees to report suspicious messages, use multifactor authentication on every account that supports it, and review access permissions regularly.

A practical business security system checklist

• Inventory connected security devices, accounts, integrations, and owners.
• Change remaining factory-default passwords.
• Replace shared administrator logins with named accounts where supported.
• Turn on multifactor authentication and review trusted devices.
• Remove access for former employees, contractors, and vendors.
• Review permissions by role and location.
• Record firmware versions, support status, and who handles updates.
• Confirm the remote-access method, open ports, and segmentation with IT.
• Document video retention, storage location, export steps, and offsite copies.
• Test how authorized staff retrieve video and activity records before an incident.
• Run a phishing refresher with staff and confirm how to report suspicious messages.

Use staffing changes, vendor changes, equipment replacements, network changes, and incidents as triggers for another review. A multi-location business with frequent turnover may need to review more often than a small, stable office.

Keep ownership clear after October

Good habits do not make a security system immune to attack, but they reduce avoidable exposure and give leaders clear answers about who can access the system and how records are protected. Sting Alarm supports business security systems in Las Vegas and Phoenix and can review your cameras, access control, and alarm system and quote upgrades when needed. Network architecture and firewall rules should be coordinated with your IT provider. Call (702) 737-8464 in Las Vegas or (602) 431-1300 in Phoenix, or request a free quote.