Making a building smart generally means connecting the systems that control heating, lighting and security to the internet and the wider corporate network. It has been reported that energy savings are the biggest factor in connecting building management systems to the corporate network giving those who run the building better control together with offers between 20 to 50% in energy savings but it also makes them less secure. There are various scenarios where a hacked building could have dire consequences. Imagine, for instance, a malicious attack at an old people’s home where, in the depth of winter, hackers gain control of the heating system and shut it down. Or a hospital where hackers take over the lighting or electricity system. Or thieves who walk into a building they want to rob simply by overriding the system that controls the security. And if any of these feels like a Hollywood film script, think again. In 2013, the US Department of Homeland Security revealed hackers had broken into a “state government facility” and made it “unusually warm”. And, in 2014, security consultant Jesus Molina told US cybersecurity conference Black Hat he had been able to gain full control of lighting, temperature and the entertainment system of 200 rooms while staying at the St Regis hotel in the Chinese city of Shenzhen. Some of the most high-profile attacks in recent years have taken advantage of the vulnerability of building management systems. For the full report click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35746649 Contact us for a risk assessment of your building – enquiries@cube2.uk.com