Fire Alarm 411: Cybersecurity for Connected Fire Systems
Key Highlights
- NFPA 72 Chapter 11 sets concrete cybersecurity requirements for networked fire alarm systems, including mandatory security gateways, port protection, timely firmware patching, and a formal change control committee for any network modifications.
- When a networked fire alarm system is compromised, the trail leads directly back to installation and service practices, making cybersecurity hygiene a professional obligation.
- Fire alarm integrators can reduce their exposure today with four practical steps.
This article originally appeared in the May 2026 issue of Security Business magazine. Don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn or our other social handles if you share it.
With a value of more than $3 trillion In 2025, cybercrime is the 8th largest industry globally. That’s five times larger than the global illicit drug trade. Organized cybercrime is outpacing numerous legitimate industries and is now being supercharged with AI.
To get a sense of how lucrative cybercrime is, consider that the average ransomware payment in 2025 was $1 million. Even low-value devices are targets. Every electronic device on a network offers hackers a potential platform to attack more valuable systems. For example, in 2013, an HVAC system was used as an entry point to attack point-of-sale terminals, resulting in the compromise of 40 million credit and debit cards.
The fire alarm industry is standing up to these challenges and taking proactive measures to address cyber risk. Chapter 11 of NFPA 72 outlines cybersecurity requirements for fire alarm systems that connect to a network.
Cyber Rules for Fire Systems
Fire alarm systems must only connect to the internet via a security gateway (e.g., hardware firewall). Unused physical ports (LAN, USB, etc.) on fire alarm equipment must be protected from unauthorized access.
It is only a matter of time before we hear about a fire alarm system getting hacked.
The manufacturer needs a copy of the building owner or manager’s contact info so they can notify them of urgent security updates. At the annual inspection, verify that this contact info and the manufacturer’s cybersecurity certificates are up to date.
Promptly apply software and firmware patches when released by the manufacturer. There are different levels of urgency, each with varying time requirements. If you have a comprehensive service agreement, make sure you add time for this.
Perhaps the most complicated cybersecurity requirement is the need to coordinate all network changes through a change control committee, consisting of numerous stakeholders. This is explained in 26.6.3. Don’t take this lightly. This will require time, people, and process commitments from you and your customer.
Case In Point
Remember, hacking building systems is not imaginary. Here’s another real-world example.
In October 2021, a cyberattack against a building automation system resulted in locking out the owner, installer, and manufacturer and rendering several hundred devices across several floors non-operational. Probably more worrisome is that nobody claimed responsibility or demanded a ransom payment. Some experts believe it may have been a proof-of-concept attack, or maybe some hacker was demonstrating their skills for a job interview.
It is only a matter of time before we hear about a fire alarm system getting hacked. In 2020, a major fire alarm manufacturer disclosed two critical vulnerabilities that allowed attackers to gain full access to their systems. All indications are that the vulnerability was discovered and patched before being exploited, but there’s no guarantee that similar vulnerabilities don’t exist today.
Steps Integrators Should Take Now
Cybersecurity measures for networked fire alarm systems are crucial. Besides following NFPA 72 Chapter 11, here are a few steps you can take, starting now.
1. Keep the software on your laptop and phone updated and install anti-malware software. This will make it less likely that your computer or phone will be the way bad guys gain access to the fire alarm system.
2. Encrypt your hard drives. That way, if a laptop walks off a job, critical system details can’t be easily copied off the computer.
3. When traveling, use a paid VPN. The paid part is critical. If you’re not paying for it, a cyber mafia or spy agency is probably watching everything you do online.
4. Safeguard your sign-in methods. Use a long, unique password for every single login. That means every app on your phone and every website where you have a login. I recommend using a unique passcode for every FACU, too. Otherwise, when the password database from one of those apps or sites gets stolen, criminals might use that password other places.
I have unique, long (mostly 30+ characters) passwords for 1,178 accounts. No duplicates. The only way to pull this off is to use a password manager. The same rule for VPNs applies here. Pay for a high-quality password manager. I’m a fan of 1Password and Dashlane.
Life safety depends on cybersecurity. By protecting fire alarm systems from cyber-attacks, you’re protecting people’s lives.
Editor’s Note: Learn more about these concepts at Ben Adams’ upcoming presentation, “Cybersecurity in the Fire Alarm Industry,” at the NFPA Conference & Expo, June 22-24 in Las Vegas.
About the Author
Ben Adams
With a career spanning nearly every role in the life safety industry and a NICET Level IV certification, Ben Adams is a sought-after author and speaker. In 2020, he founded Field Sim to accelerate training for companies, shrinking time-to-value for new techs from months to just days. Most of his columns are excerpted from Fire Alarm 101 training content, which can be found at https://training.fieldsim.com.