Are Security Guards Responsible For Maintaining Cybersecurity At Research Facilities?

December 05, 2024

At Allied Nationwide Security, we often get asked whether security guards are responsible for protecting research facilities from cyber threats. While security guards don’t directly manage cybersecurity, they play a very important role in keeping both the physical and digital aspects of a research facility safe.

Let’s break down how security companies in Los Angeles help protect these places and why their role is still crucial when it comes to preventing cyber attacks.

What Do Security Guards Do at Research Facilities?

First, let’s look at what security guards actually do in a research facility. Their main job is to keep the building and everything inside it safe. This includes making sure no unauthorized people can sneak in, checking the identification of anyone who enters, and ensuring that restricted areas stay off-limits. In research facilities, there are often sensitive areas, like laboratories or rooms where important experiments are happening. Guards make sure that only authorized people—like employees or visitors with proper permissions—are allowed into these areas. They also keep an eye on the building by monitoring security cameras, checking doors and windows, and making sure everything is locked and secure. But you might be wondering: how does all this relate to cybersecurity? Well, let’s explore that next.

How Does Physical Security Help Protect Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity involves protecting computers and digital information from being hacked or stolen. But here’s the thing: physical security, like the work security guards do, is just as important for protecting sensitive data. Why? Because if someone is able to break into a research facility and steal a computer, they might also steal valuable data stored on it. Think about it: imagine a hacker wants to steal research data, but instead of hacking into the computer system, they break into the building, grab a laptop or server, and walk away with it. Without the protection of security guards, this could happen easily. Guards help prevent this by making sure no one can sneak into restricted areas and steal equipment or data.

How Do Security Guards Help Prevent Cyber Attacks?

Even though security guards aren’t directly in charge of computer networks, their work still helps prevent cyber attacks. Here’s how: if a guard sees someone trying to enter a restricted area, like a server room where important computers are stored, they can stop them right away. If a guard notices something suspicious—like someone acting strangely or trying to access a computer—they can report it to the IT team to make sure nothing goes wrong. Guards are also trained to notice potential threats. For example, if a guard spots someone trying to plug an unknown USB device into a computer or tamper with equipment, they can stop it before anything harmful happens. While they don’t deal with firewalls or software, they’re key in stopping physical threats from turning into digital problems.

Working Together: Guards and IT Teams

Guards help protect the equipment that IT teams rely on, too. For example, if a guard notices someone tampering with a computer or trying to bypass security systems, they can immediately alert the IT team. Once the IT team is notified, they can handle the digital side of the threat, like checking for malware or unauthorized access. This partnership between security guards and IT professionals creates a strong defense against both physical and cyber threats. It’s a team effort to keep the research facility and all the data inside safe.

If you’re looking for a security guard company in Los Angeles to help protect your research facility, we’re here to help. Security guards and IT professionals must work together to keep a facility secure, and we have the experience and training to do just that.

Contact us today!