Hikvision NA Biggest Sale of 2017 (Twice)

I came to security area from IT/Telco so all those cybersecurity problems that physical security world actively discuss for the last couple years are pretty common for me, as IT guys always think about protecting the network devices. And, if we're talking about commercial installations, there're simple rules every specialist follows:

1. No port mapping, no exposed services to the Internet. There're some exclusions like when you have some servers in DMZ, etc. But it's not about CCTV. VPN only, all the cameras with a local access only (delete GW and DNS settings, monitor traffic, apply traffic policies for CCTV at your network security appliances).

2. IPS/IDS installed. Router with a firewall, managed by network professional, not a camera guy.

3. Policies in place. Starting from the installation to accessing system in the future.

4. Test new FW, upgrade ASAP.

5. We don't use android mobile devices, but, as we've seen, iOS app could be compromised too. When you have an idiot in your company who downloads XCode from some unknown server instead of apple resource, that's a major problem. That's a risk you bear when you deal with a young company that still learns how to do the business properly. No similar issues for the last 2 years, and that's good.

There were a lot of issues with Hik before. But tell me, what would be a problem for a business that has a network configured properly?

I agree, all those cheap chinese products are a big risk for residential.

Agree.

I understand, for the most of the guys here it's Terra incognita, but it's very typical for IT industry: the more products you sell, the more people search (and find) vulnerabilities.

MS Windows is a perfect example. Let's stop using it, they still have issues with cybersecurity (google patch Tuesday) and they are like 30 years on a market! :)

I 100% disagree with your statement.

Then who is #1 in cyber-security problems?

Or at least name anyone who has more cyber security issues than Hik.

That should be 100% easy, right?

Sorry but with HIK you are opening your doors to everyone

if their strategy was truly to dominate the US market and cripple/shutdown competitors

That might have been their strategy entering 2017 but exciting 2017, it has become obvious that the only companies they are likely to cripple are their own and Dahua's OEMs. The more upscale players are increasingly immune given Hikvision's various issues.

Also, these ongoing sales only reinforce those issues and fears among medium to higher-end buyers. It's contradictory too because Hikvision clearly wants to move upmarket but they cling to tactics (like cutting prices) that not only are ineffective upmarket, they are brand damaging since those buyers are not simply choosing the thing on sale, in stock, on any given day.

Dennis, I understand you do not and I respect your abilities. I also agree that many installers "know almost nothing about network security" but Hikvision has to take blame when it keeps telling people to do insecure things. It's not fair to simply blame the installers when Hikvision is targeting unknowledgeable installers and directing them in such fashion.