City authorities can use the documents published by cybersecurity nonprofit organisation (NPO) Securing Smart Cities when investigating how to adopt smart city technologies and organise a smart city security department.

The organisation makes the published findings of practical research assessments available. These cover major smart city security issues, such as surveillance system problems and city communication networks and their availability to attackers.

Securing Smart Cities – founded by cybersecurity firms IOActive, Kaspersky Lab, Bastille and Cloud Security Alliance – works to increase awareness about security issues in cities and shares its expertise with city authorities through the publication of security guides and research dedicated to different areas of the security of future cities.

Need for Research There is a considerable need for research around the security of smart cities to be given a higher priority, says Securing Smart Cities board member and Kaspersky Lab security expert Mohammad Amin Hasbini.

“Our documents are already being used by leaders and decision-makers for the planning and development of their strategies,” he highlights.

There is a tremendous need for more awareness on the issue of cybersecurity in cities, as they continue to get smarter and constantly incorporate new technologies into their infrastructure, but are often unaware of the importance of cybersecurity.

Securing Smart Cities is playing a key role in educating the main actors, such as governments, vendors and professionals about current cybersecurity problems and the possible solutions for smart cities.

Securing Smart Cities board member and chief technology officer at IOActive Cesar Cerrudo says the NPO’s representatives have already participated in a number of key events, including briefing the US government on the state of smart city security and it is helping the European Union Agency for Network to conduct two studies concerning the possible security issues in smart city public transportation.