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For security practitioners, security and privacy are part of the job. But as important as it is, it’s not always taken into consideration when looking at camera systems, and many lack  balance between the two. With data protection laws becoming more common globally, it’s imperative that the security cameras your organization selects are built with privacy by design. And as the technology continues to evolve, it’s also essential to ensure that data captured is being used responsibly. To best prepare for what the future may bring, you need a trusted partner who understands that privacy and data protection are integral.

Think about it this way—when looking for a new home, you wouldn’t purchase a house without a lock on the door. And if that house didn’t come with curtains, you’d probably put them in so your neighbors wouldn’t see you cleaning the living room dressed in a cat onesie. But a house where the builder installed locks (security) and curtains (privacy) is a move-in-ready dream house. When selecting cameras to protect your organization, look for that “dream house” as well. 

Building a solid foundation

Security, privacy, trust—organizations should be thinking of these before day one, and definitely before a breach or hack happens. Meraki smart cameras and sensors are that “dream house”—developed with security in mind. They’re built to address emerging security threats, both now and in the future, and go beyond “just the necessary features” to ensure your protection.

  • A secure-by-default approach minimizes configuration requirements, and security cannot be turned off
  • Video is automatically encrypted at rest and in-transit using publicly signed certificates
  • OTA software updates ensure you have the latest security features
  • Devices are protected and tamper-proof with Cisco Trust Anchor modules, secure boot, and firmware image signing 
  • No default usernames and passwords, and secure but easy-to-configure user roles, let you give camera access only to those who need it

A well-balanced foundation is built with privacy that doesn’t sacrifice security or safety. With more departments benefiting from video data, it’s no longer just physical security professionals who need access. As insights from video data are being used by facilities, operations, and marketing, the ability to grant different levels of access is critical to maintaining privacy. This, combined with video access logs, provides additional levels of security and visibility to reduce misuse. Teams that don’t need to watch video can leverage insights from anonymized data, allowing marketing to confirm that a planogram is compliant, and allowing facilities to create a more comfortable employee experience without compromising security or privacy.

Every step of the way 

Security is built into not only the hardware, but also the platform. We don’t just expect this of ourselves, we look for partners and suppliers that share similar values. Our ecosystem partners leverage Meraki APIs to securely connect their applications to the Meraki platform. Partners like meldCX share our commitment to developing ethical, socially responsible, and privacy-compliant computer vision systems. As a security practitioner, ensuring that video data is only being collected when needed and is used ethically should be a top priority.  

Earning trust through transparency

Openness and transparency are key to building customer trust. Across all our lines of business, Cisco is open and transparent about our approach to security and privacy. As we unify experiences across IT, OT, and IoT, customers should expect the same transparency and accountability they’ve come to expect in other areas of our business.  Learn more about how Cisco Meraki is leading the way for security, privacy, and trust in physical security.