by Brianna Crandall — August 30, 2019 — With advances in technology, facilities managers (FMs) are seeing buildings become safer, more efficient, more user-friendly and more reliable. However, with more integrated technology, there is also an increased need for facility cybersecurity. As elevators and escalators evolve with the innovations of remote monitoring and predictive maintenance, leaders in the field have proactively introduced best practices to protect them.
The National Elevator Industry, Inc. (NEII), the premier trade association for the building transportation industry in North America, has released the Elevator and Escalator Industry Cybersecurity Best Practices — said to be a first-of-its-kind guideline for the industry, developed by cybersecurity and codes experts from NEII member companies.
The best practices were developed by experienced cybersecurity professionals from around the world, including North America, Europe, the Pacific Asia Lift and Escalator Association (PALEA), and the China Elevator Association (CEA).
NEII notes that the best practices guideline has become a necessity as building transportation systems have become an integrated part of complex modern buildings with multiple controllers and processors, monitoring systems accessing the internet, and Wi-Fi capable communication systems.
While such connectivity takes elevators and escalators to new levels in availability, efficiency and general building safety, it also exposes their computer systems to the world of cyber threats. These industry best practices will provide guidance until a comprehensive cybersecurity standard for elevators and escalators becomes available, says NEII.
For more information, see Elevator and Escalator Industry Cybersecurity Best Practices on the NEII website. NEII members install, maintain, and/or manufacture elevators, escalators, moving walks, and other building transportation products.
