As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, so must the defenses that protect sensitive data, networks, and devices. One term now dominating the conversation in both federal government and private sector electronic security circles is Zero Trust. But what does it really mean—especially for those managing physical security infrastructure like video surveillance systems?
In a recent discussion, Matt Golueke of Chesapeake and Midlantic Marketing sat down with Mike Brewer from Bosch Security and Safety Systems to help clarify the concept of Zero Trust and its practical implications for Bosch’s portfolio of security cameras and video management software (BVMS).
Matt opened the conversation by looking back at the analog era of electronic security, when cybersecurity was a non-issue. “You punched in a four-digit code into your DVR and you were in,” he said. “Cybersecurity professionals weren’t really involved.” But with the arrival of IP-based security devices and their integration into IT networks, the stakes—and risks—changed dramatically.
“Now that everything's IP, the IT department is in charge, and cybersecurity is paramount,” Matt noted. “It’s about protecting the data and the system from infiltration.”
He stressed that Zero Trust is already shaping specifications in federal government contracts—and private sector adoption is beginning to follow suit.
Mike, Bosch Marketing Manager for North America, explained the company’s dual role in this evolving cybersecurity ecosystem. “We’re taking in a lot of voice-of-customer feedback,” he said. “That includes any device or software that touches the network—servers, cameras, software platforms like BVMS, and decoders.”
He emphasized that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. “Every organization has different devices, versions, and networks,” he said. “You won’t find a step-by-step guide to ‘achieving Zero Trust’ on the internet.”
Bosch has long supported this functionality in its cameras, and it's now being more deeply integrated into BVMS. Starting with version 13 (releasing soon), BVMS will support strict certificate-based communication. Future updates will allow BVMS to act as a certificate authority, simplifying the management burden for some IT departments.
BVMS 12.3 already supports Single Sign-On (SSO) via OpenID Connect (OIDC), enabling users to log in with the same credentials they use for other enterprise applications like Microsoft Teams or Outlook.
Next up: multi-factor authentication (MFA). “We're seeing a lot of interest, especially from federal agencies using PIV cards or private sector clients using biometrics or USB keys,” said Mike.
Short-term: Mass certificate management for Bosch cameras, enhanced SSO capabilities, and integration with third-party certificate authorities.
Mid- to long-term: Deeper MFA capabilities, expanded device-level compliance, and tools to support IT teams in managing increasingly complex security environments.
“Ten years from now, Zero Trust will be business as usual,” said Mike. “But today, it’s about planning, triaging, and getting customers on the right path.”
As federal government mandates push Zero Trust into the spotlight, integrators, consultants, and end users must begin asking tough questions about device authentication, data security, and system access. Bosch Security Systems is not only ready to support that conversation but is already engineering the solutions to support it.
To learn more about Bosch's Zero Trust-ready solutions and how they fit into your security roadmap, reach out to Chesapeake and Midlantic Marketing or visit our online cybersecurity resources below.
Bosch Cybersecurity Presentation >>
Bosch Cybersecurity Documentation >>