The Honeywell survey found that more than seven out of ten property managers surveyed expressed concerns about the cybersecurity of building operations

Only 44% of respondents said they have deployed cybersecurity solutions to protect building operational technology systems from potential threats

Shanghai, China, September 22, 2021 – Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) recently released a report on building trends, showing that improving cybersecurity in operational technology (OT) is one of the top priorities for property managers over the next 12 to 18 months. More than seven in ten (71%) property managers surveyed see operational technology (OT) system cybersecurity as a potential concern. At the same time, respondents pointed out that OT cybersecurity, as a building improvement measure, will bring significant benefits to all stakeholders in the building asset.

The third in Honeywell's 2021 Building Trends Survey series, titled "Protecting Facility Operations Technology from Cyber Threats: The Dilemma and the State of the Situation," highlights the challenges, priorities, and personal perspectives of property managers surveyed. These respondents come from property facility practitioners in the education, healthcare, data center, and commercial real estate industries in different countries such as United States, Germany, and China. The results of the survey show that property managers perceive operational technology (OT) systems as a potential threat of cyberattacks and recognize their importance to building occupants.

Surprisingly, only 44% of respondents said they have deployed cybersecurity solutions to address potential threats to building operational technology (OT) systems. In addition, only three in ten (33%) of respondents plan to invest in OT system security products in the next 12 to 18 months.

Building operations technology systems are responsible for monitoring, controlling, and protecting the internal processes, equipment, and operating environment of a building. Assets such as HVAC, building controls, and security systems can become a breakthrough for bad actors.

"When you think of cybersecurity, you may think of IT, data and asset protection, but the importance of cybersecurity for operational technology (OT) systems should not be underestimated. If the entire data center team is unable to access a critical area of a building or hospital, the consequences are dire. Ye Li, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Building Technologies China, said: "The OT environment of a building should be monitored and maintained in the same way as the IT system, and should not be negligent. But it's clear that the current network and digital 'health' of OT systems often doesn't get enough attention and investment. ”

The survey also found that nearly three in ten (27%) property managers have experienced an operational technology (OT) system network breach in the past 12 months, and 66% of respondents consider managing OT network security to be one of their toughest tasks. Driven by factors such as the pandemic, many respondents have begun to adjust their focus in the near future. The majority (56%) of respondents are generally more willing to invest in security-related solutions, including OT cybersecurity, now than they were before the pandemic.

Ye Li, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Intelligent Building Technology Group China, said: "From the survey results, it is not difficult to find that although many property facility managers recognize the importance of operational technology (OT) system cybersecurity, they suffer from insufficient investment and intermittent construction, and the security of buildings and assets cannot be adequately protected. Cybersecurity incidents can not only cause financial losses, but also deal a significant blow to the overall operations and reputation of the business. The good news is that more and more building owners are becoming aware of the potential impact of OT cyberattacks on operations and infrastructure, creating more favorable conditions for property managers to make informed purchasing decisions and enhance the cyber resilience of the entire OT environment. ”

Honeywell's technology deployment integrates all building management systems into a single platform, bringing together data from siloed systems, enabling property managers to better understand and make informed decisions, reducing operational costs and improving cybersecurity management efficiency.

The Honeywell survey found that more than seven out of ten property managers surveyed expressed concerns about the cybersecurity of building operations

The Honeywell survey found that more than seven out of ten property managers surveyed expressed concerns about the cybersecurity of building operations

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