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By Alberto Jessurun / March 24, 2021 / Blog

3 Ways COVID-19 Has Changed Security

Security tactics like facial recognition have been challenged by all the mask-wearing during the pandemic. What are companies doing instead, and what other ways has COVID-19 changed security?

Key Takeaways
  • Facial recognition is not as effective with mask-wearing, but companies are already creating new algorithms to keep up.
  • Organizations in industries such as transportation are using surveillance to monitor for compliance with safety measures.
  • Cybercriminals are taking advantage of vulnerable organizations that had to quickly implement digital transformation when the pandemic began.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an array of challenges in the last year, and the world of security is no exception. Particularly AI-based techniques, like facial recognition, have been challenged by mask requirements that limit the technology’s ability to recognize individuals properly. This has strained investments in these technologies.

Cybersecurity has had to pivot as well. Cybercriminals were quick to take advantage of companies that had to make a fast transition to remote work and cloud-based systems, which introduced many new vulnerabilities.

First, we will walk through how facial recognition has changed and what companies are doing to keep up. Then, we’ll take a look at how industries have started using surveillance to monitor mask-wearing and social distancing. We’ll finish the overview by discussing threats to cybersecurity and the biggest challenges facing IT teams as COVID-19 continues. 

1. Facial recognition changes

Facial recognition has been adopted by many industries, from government to transportation to cellular device manufacturers. The success of the technology depends on algorithms that detect a person’s unique facial features for identification purposes, and it has been widely accepted as an avenue to increase security across a range of organizations. 

But COVID-19 has led to more people across the globe wearing masks as many governments have required people to wear them, especially when entering businesses. Masks generally cover at least half of the face, which created a problem for facial recognition algorithms. 

One study from the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST) found that the error rate for these algorithms was between 5% and 50% when the subject wore a face mask. The more of the face covered, the more errors were found in identifying individuals.

Some companies are already creating new algorithms that can identify people based on just the top portion of the face so facial recognition will work even with large populations wearing masks. For example, the company Facewatch launched a new algorithm that can recognize people based on the eye area between cheekbones and eyebrows.

Apple has also recognized the difficulty in facial recognition and recently announced that iPhone users will be able to unlock their devices while wearing a face covering using a technology that works in conjunction with the Apple Watch.

Similar algorithms were in development for facial recognition companies before COVID to address challenges identifying individuals wearing sunglasses, hats, or other coverings. No doubt, as the pandemic continues and mask-wearing may become a more permanent part of life, facial recognition techniques will have to adapt and become more advanced to stay effective.

2. Mask enforcement with surveillance

Aside from the security challenges due to limited facial recognition, new security measures are being used to identify people who are not wearing a mask in areas where one is required. 

Airlines, for example, are using surveillance technology to identify people not complying with mask-wearing mandates on flights and in airport waiting areas. These technologies can also identify whether people are social distancing properly in these spaces. 

Organizations like retail shops, restaurants, and hotels are also starting to experiment with technologies that monitor mask-wearing. One example is Cyberlink FaceMe, which can detect if a person has a mask on and even if it is being worn properly, covering the mouth and the nose.

3. COVID-19 and cybersecurity

Facial recognition isn’t the only aspect of security that has changed because of the pandemic. Cybersecurity has had to adapt as well, primarily because more companies around the world are working in remote environments. This requires new measures to protect sensitive company information, employee communication, and how enterprise systems are managed. 

When so many new systems have to be implemented quickly, as happened when the COVID-19 shutdowns were implemented in 2020, many vulnerabilities may not be addressed effectively. 

Attackers know to take advantage of chaos and confusion caused by quick transitions. Data breaches on a large scale saw a 273% spike in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019.   IT staff at a variety of companies and organizations have had to implement new ways to take on security tasks like the following:
  • Authenticating users from remote locations
  • Securing many different devices that now need access to shared systems
  • Embracing human error while implementing better security controls
  • Reevaluating appropriate levels of access across the company
  • Effectively monitoring for threats across all these moving parts
Organizations have moved work, data, and systems to the cloud more than ever before, speeding up digital transformation policies that many had been slowly working to achieve. Fortunately, cloud computing has made it easier to evaluate cybersecurity. Most clouds have integrated security models that can help companies minimize risks when transitioning to a cloud-based model.

Why work with Unisol International?

Your organization needs better solutions to deal with the security changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and everything else going on in the world today. At Unisol International, we specialize in product distribution and turnkey deployments to help you find the right solutions and implement them into your current systems and workflows. 

Our professionals will help you find the right technologies and products and help with installation and setup as needed. From security cameras to POS systems to electronic security to digital signage, we will help you find the right product to solve whatever issue you’re facing. We work with retailers, transportation organizations, healthcare facilities, government agencies, data centers, and many more. 

Contact the Unisol International team today to get started.

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