On average, the cost per data breach has increased 10% over last year to $4.88 million per organization in 2024, as the highest cost per breach recorded by IBM. As organizations continue to harden the network edge and incorporate cloud into their IT strategy, it is apparent that the biggest vulnerability to enterprise security is something much more tangible: the hard drive in a stolen laptop or compromised server component that can breach advanced firewalls, next-generation intrusion prevention systems, and advanced threat protection technologies.
We have established that the smart locker is designed to satisfy a particular storage need, and in addition, the smart locker functions as an active security monitoring endpoint. Of course, the smart locker is only one part of the overall security architecture, and thus it is important to evaluate not only the importance of the smart locker itself, but also the hardening of the device, its cybersecurity features, and finally the overall usage and access compliance reporting features. With this guide, we will examine the various security aspects of large-scale smart and digital locker deployments.
The most important part of any locker system is its physical security. If someone can easily get around the hardware, the software controls don’t matter. Enterprise smart lockers need to be built to keep people from breaking into them with brute force or more advanced methods.
The way the locker body is built determines its basic level of security. Standard requirements include high-gauge steel, hidden hinges, and doors that are stronger than normal. The design must get rid of pry points and make sure that even if one compartment is broken into, the structural integrity of the compartments next to it stays the same.
Smart lockers replace conventional padlocks and combination dial locks with electronic locks for each locker. The two most common types of electronic locks for smart lockers are the solenoid lock and the motorized lock, which are fully integrated into the control system of the locker.
High-quality electronic locks are strong and can withstand a lot of force. They can also be set up to fail-secure, meaning that even in the event of a power failure, all lockers will always be in the locked state with contents safely stored inside.
Enterprise lockers have anti-drilling plates over the locking mechanisms and reinforced strike plates to stop people from prying them open. These features make it much harder and take a lot more time to break into a compartment, which makes it less likely that someone will steal something when they see it.
It adds significant value to the overall physical security when cameras currently in place are integrated with the smart lockers. For example, cameras positioned nearby can be triggered to record an event such as a locker compartment being opened or a tamper alarm being activated. The captured video creates a valuable adjunct to the security investigation, providing further evidence of proper use or locker misuse.
To house the cold storage containers and packages for temperature-sensitive goods, the organization has equipped IoT-enabled ‘smart lockers’. These devices, which are IoT endpoint devices, require appropriate cybersecurity measures to be implemented in order to protect the organization from known endpoint threats.
Lockers, controllers, and Cloud Platform communications must be secured. Industry standard security protocols such as TLS 1.2 (with support for higher protocols) for in-transit data encryption, and AES-256 data at rest encryption will render communications that are intercepted during transit useless. This level of security will protect not only user login credentials but also access event logs.
Enterprises, using applications such as IT Service Management software and HR software for people management (e.g., HRM and employee directory), first require an API to connect to their locker systems. Through this API, the applications include login details in the form of OAuth 2.0 tokens. Furthermore, the API includes a limit for requests to prevent Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. By using the API on the locker system, users are unable to access the core network of a company.
Smart lockers collect a lot of personal data, such as name, usage time, and potentially biometric data. Locker operators, therefore, have a responsibility to comply with privacy legislation such as the GDPR. Locker operators will need to set rules around data storage, consent, and data deletion/anonymization requests. Locker management software should be able to enforce these rules automatically.
Smart lockers, like any other software-based system, need regular maintenance to fix any security holes that are found. Enterprise vendors offer automated firmware and software updates over the air (OTA). This keeps the locker network safe from new threats without needing IT staff to do anything.
The access control system decides who can open a locker and when. Switching from physical keys to digital credentials makes it possible to have security policies that are very specific and take into account the situation.
For high-value assets, using only one way to authenticate, like a PIN, is not enough. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a way to protect accounts that uses a PIN, an RFID badge or mobile device, or biometrics. If you need two or more factors, the chances of someone getting into your account without permission because they stole your credentials go down a lot.
The principle of least privilege should guide who can access what. RBAC lets administrators set up roles (like IT technician, regular employee, or contractor) and give those roles certain access rights. This makes sure that users can only get to the compartments and assets they need to do their jobs.
You can share or steal digital credentials. Smart locker systems use things like time-limited access codes (which stop working after a certain amount of time) and geo-fencing (which limits access to certain physical locations) to help with this. Also, connecting to the company’s Active Directory makes sure that access is automatically taken away when an employee leaves the company.
Security systems should always take into account so-called ‘edge cases’, such as a power failure in the middle of the night or a medical alert. Smart lockers incorporate a secure override mechanism that allows those authorized such access, such as security staff or facility managers, to access a compartment, either using a variety of credentials or by use of a physical ‘master key’. This ensures that items within a locker are always accessible when required.
In regulated industries, being able to show that security controls are working properly is just as important as the controls themselves. Smart lockers take care of the paperwork needed for compliance audits.
Every access to a locker for storing clothing and shoes is recorded. All attempts for opening a locker, including failed attempts, are recorded by the automated system with the time stamp and the corresponding user ID. This improves accuracy over handwriting user sign out on a pad of paper with a pen, and makes for a more enjoyable shopping experience by eliminating any possibility of error.
Whether the IT asset contains sensitive information or is serving as evidence in a court of law, it is common practice for the asset to be tracked throughout its disposal process, known as the chain of custody. This chain of custody documents all transactions and parties involved during the destruction cycle, which, in the case of the HD LugWagon, is recorded in the transaction log, documenting the action and user involved.
A SOC 2 Type II certification means that an outside auditor has checked the vendor’s security controls over a long period of time. If you’re deploying in an enterprise setting, choosing a vendor with this certification, like Signifi, gives you peace of mind that the cloud management platform meets high standards for security, availability, and privacy.
HIPAA and GLBA are two laws that require healthcare and financial companies to protect sensitive data in specific ways. Smart lockers help with compliance by making sure that physical assets that hold protected health information (PHI) or nonpublic personal information (NPI) are safe and that access is tightly controlled and logged.
A secure system must not only keep people out who shouldn’t be there, but it must also find and fix problems as they happen.
Our locker networks are monitored for any unusual activity by our management software. Management software provides an early alert for the administration of any unusual activity, such as doors being opened forcefully, doors being left ajar, or multiple failed login attempts. These alerts are sent on an automated basis via email, SMS, or ITSM integrations to the administration to quickly alert of any potential security issues.
Most advanced usage tracking platforms now incorporate machine learning in order to learn normal baseline usage and behavior from employees and then flag anomalies, such as an employee who normally accesses their locker during work hours trying to access it at 3:00 AM as a potential insider threat before a credential theft occurs.
Our comprehensive management software tools are designed to assist facility administrators with any necessary investigation following an incident. Users can instantly search a facility’s transaction history by user or by compartment, access history for safe contents, and determine the amount of loss by comparing the contents of a locked item against corresponding video footage.
Even in high-security environments, lockers can be designed to automatically respond to threats. For example, if a tamper alarm is activated on a safe, adjacent lockers could be automatically locked down. All non-administrative users might be prevented from entering the affected area, and an alert will be sent to the physical security team.
“Keepin’ it safe” isn’t just a function of the technology. Strong, enforceable policies and procedures have to be in place as well. Managing credentials properly, using lockers and storage correctly, and examining access logs on a regular basis are all important to keeping data safe.
Physical property, whether it be cash, devices, or products, is a valuable asset to any business. As methods of theft and misappropriation become more complex, the onus is on businesses and individuals to adhere to the highest standards of security by storing assets in the most secure manner possible.
Using the most up-to-date smart locker technology in conjunction with stringent security methods and processes will help to not only keep your customers and their items safe but also ensure that your business is operating within all relevant laws and regulations.
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