Modern security systems in the era of hybrid threats – Genetec offers support for military infrastructure

The Genetec Security Center system enables the unification of various sources of information: from cameras and sensors to access-control systems and behavioral analytics. This makes it possible to quickly detect indicators of sabotage activity, such as unusual human behavior, movement in restricted zones, or suspicious vehicle-movement patterns. Moreover, the platform operates in a continuous and predictive mode, meaning it can warn about threats even before an incident occurs.

In hybrid attacks, where physical interference may be coordinated with a cyberattack — for example, the sabotage of a camera system or an attempt to bypass access control — multilayer system protection becomes crucial. Every component of the platform communicates in an encrypted manner based on the zero-trust principle, meaning that all elements mutually authenticate one another. This architecture significantly increases resistance to man-in-the-middle attacks, privilege escalation, and other advanced techniques used by organized threat actors, emphasizes Jakub Kozak, Area Sales Director East Central Europe, Genetec.

Security experts are increasingly drawing attention to the growing threat of arson as a form of sabotage. In recent months, several incidents – such as the fire at the warehouse hall on Marywilska Street in Warsaw – have suggested that fire may be used as a relatively simple yet highly destructive method of attacking infrastructure. In such situations, rapid detection of the source of the fire and full integration of security systems are critical.

Modern technologies today offer far more than traditional smoke detectors – with video surveillance, it is possible to detect suspicious behavior, such as an attempt at arson, even before a real threat materializes. Detailed image analysis and advanced algorithms can identify not only flames but also behavior indicating sabotage intent. If the algorithm detects a fire, integration with the access-control system enables automatic opening of evacuation-route doors while keeping critical areas, such as safes, securely locked.

In discussions about sabotage and technical security, the physical protection of video-recording systems is often overlooked, yet these devices, which store footage from cameras, can serve as the facility’s “black boxes,” essential for analyzing an incident after the fact. Unfortunately, if recorders are located physically inside the targeted facility and are not properly secured (e.g., through remote backups or a distributed data-storage architecture), they may be destroyed or stolen.

Experts point out that such scenarios have occurred in the past, for example, during bank robberies where criminals deliberately destroyed recorders. This is why, in the era of hybrid attacks, the distributed storage of video data is so important: the physical loss of a single device must not mean the loss of critical evidence.

One of the most underestimated threats in technical security is the failure to change default access passwords for network devices, particularly surveillance cameras. Despite numerous warnings, many installations still contain devices operating with factory settings.

For a potential intruder, this is the simplest way to take control of such a device, not only to view the camera feed but also to use it as an entry point into the entire internal network. Moreover, network isolation often turns out to be illusory: a single uncontrolled USB port or an unauthorized device connected to a computer is enough to make a seemingly secure network vulnerable to external threats.

In recent times, the concept of an “active shooter” has become increasingly common. This issue is appearing more frequently in threat analyses concerning critical infrastructure and public facilities, especially after tragic events such as the shooting at Charles University in Prague or the attack at the University of Warsaw. An active shooter is an armed individual moving through a facility and attempting to inflict physical harm in a short period of time. In such situations, an immediate system response is crucial.

We use weapon-detection algorithms that rely on surveillance cameras. The cameras monitor an area, for example in front of a building, and if the algorithm detects a person with a firearm — slung over the shoulder or held in a ready-to-fire position — the system generates an immediate alarm. This alarm triggers security procedures, which may include automatically locking doors, activating alarm sirens, and notifying security personnel and the appropriate emergency services. As a result, the system can react instantly and minimize the impact of the threat, adds Jakub Kozak.

To enhance its active-shooter detection capabilities, Genetec also integrates solutions that use, among others, acoustic gunshot detection and X-ray scanners. In surveillance systems, we can record both the entry and exit of individuals, the personnel-screening process, and then create a complete video archive together with the stored X-ray scans.

One of the key advantages of the Genetec platform is its unification, the ability to connect all security components within one logically coherent environment. Unlike traditional systems, where video surveillance, access control, incident detection, and data analytics operate separately and require manual correlation of information, the Security Center platform merges these modules into a single operational hub. Such an architecture allows operators to react faster, reduces human error, and automates crisis scenarios.

It is this unification that makes it possible to link fire detection with the unlocking of evacuation routes while simultaneously securing critical zones. It is what enables a signal about detecting an armed individual to automatically trigger an alarm, lock down access to the facility, notify emergency services, and initiate high-resolution recording.

Photos: Genetec

In military facilities such as air bases, command centers, or strategic equipment depots, such integration should be the norm and a mandatory standard. A lack of coherent information flow can result in delayed responses, conflicting decisions, or even the loss of data critical to multiple operations. In the realities of hybrid warfare, every second matters, and information chaos works to the adversary’s advantage.

In the context of Poland, a frontline NATO state and a potential target of diversionary activities, systems such as Genetec Security Center can significantly enhance the security of military and strategic infrastructure.

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