IT, Cybersecurity and Physical Security: A Personal Experience Over the Last 15 Years

Foundation in Unified and Integrated Systems

I always thought I would end up working with my dad’s company, but I never realized just how much I would grow to love the industry. For over a decade, I had the invaluable opportunity to learn firsthand from my father, Cesar Esquivel, as he built Cesar and Sons Services into a trusted name in electrical, low-voltage home and building automation solutions. Working alongside him, I quickly realized that success in this field goes beyond simply installing stand-alone systems. Instead, we focused on crafting comprehensive, fully integrated solutions – seamlessly combining IT infrastructure (networking, identity management, hybrid cloud), cybersecurity and physical security – to deliver tailored, cohesive strategies that meet the unique needs of each client.

For those new to the industry – or those who, like me, were “voluntold” by family to join – it’s essential to engage beyond your immediate company. Expanding your perspective and learning from others in the field can provide a deeper understanding and open doors to new opportunities as it has for myself.

Addressing Security Silos and Risk Mitigation

A fragmented approach to IT, cybersecurity and physical security introduces significant risks, including data breaches, financial extortion, operational disruptions and compromised supply chains. I have witnessed firsthand how security gaps arise when organizations treat these areas separately rather than as a unified ecosystem. Overcoming these silos requires integrated security frameworks that facilitate cross-disciplinary communication, centralized monitoring and unified solutions.

Collaboration between IT, cybersecurity and physical security teams through shared protocols, training and threat intelligence ensures an optimized defense strategy. From luxury homes to enterprise organizations, each presents unique challenges and risk tolerances, which must be carefully assessed in partnership with clients to develop comprehensive solutions and an objective-oriented approach.

My extensive involvement with corporate offices and entities on a national and international scale has deepened my understanding of the complexities involved in balancing these various security domains. Achieving a robust security posture demands a collaborative approach, where teams work together to identify vulnerabilities, assess risks, and implement holistic security solutions. Integrating these domains enhances organizational resilience, fostering adaptable security frameworks that proactively mitigate threats while aligning with business objectives.

Prior Experience and Industry Applications

My career has involved working with a variety of technologies to directly solve challenges across multiple industries such as luxury residential and commercial real estate, advertising, banking, insurance, healthcare, transportation and data centers. Leveraging my experiences around solving complex challenges I’ve become involved and have taken leadership roles in multiple user groups for different technologies such as Linux, VMware and network operators in the Long Island and New York City metro area. These user groups have been great outlets to build and contribute back into the community as well as staying consistently at the forefront of new challenges in the industry.

My involvement with the Security Industry Association (SIA) and the RISE community has provided a structured platform for me to give back, mentor emerging professionals and contribute to the security industry in a meaningful way. These organizations create invaluable opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange ideas and collectively push the security industry forward. Working with Fortune 100 companies and providing guidance along with collaborating with industry peers has reinforced my expertise in providing solutions with a focus on converged security strategies.

The Importance of Security Convergence

A converged security strategy is essential for addressing the cascading impacts of interconnected cyber-physical infrastructure. As technology continues to bridge physical and cyber assets across critical sectors such as energy, transportation, agriculture and health care, organizations must embrace an integrated approach. A unified security framework enhances threat detection, response coordination and resilience against emerging risks. While implementing converged security functions may require organizational change, the benefits such as improved operational efficiency, enhanced situational awareness, and streamlined compliance – far outweigh the challenges. Many of the customers I’ve worked with have implemented changes to have a well-structured convergence model ensuring a sustainable, adaptable security posture rooted in shared practices and collaborative defense strategies.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency underscores the critical need for this convergence, emphasizing that a unified security framework is essential to mitigating evolving threats and fortifying critical infrastructure against both cyber and physical security vulnerabilities.

The Future of Security Unification

For companies with multiple locations, a unified security convergence model provides centralized monitoring, enabling enhanced oversight across various sites. This approach enhances operational efficiency by reducing labor costs while strengthening situational awareness and streamlining incident response. By integrating IT, cyber, and physical security into a scalable framework, organizations can ensure rapid threat detection and mitigation, fostering a resilient security posture that adapts to evolving risks.

My objective remains to blend and integrate industry leading and emerging technologies that are adaptable to advancements in the field. Security systems must be designed with scalability in mind, allowing businesses to incorporate new technologies without compromising their foundational security posture.

A Commitment to Ongoing Improvement

My involvement in engineering solutions for highly challenging security systems requires continual collaboration with clients and industry professionals to assess risks and implement optimal solutions. Trust and communication are paramount in delivering security solutions that meet the evolving demands of businesses and critical infrastructure.

As security threats continue to evolve, we must ask ourselves: Are we doing enough to stay ahead? True protection requires a proactive commitment to security convergence – where IT, cybersecurity and physical security work in harmony to form a strong, unified defense. By embracing innovation, collaboration, and vigilance, we don’t just respond to threats – we anticipate and prevent them. Security is not just a responsibility – it’s a shared duty that demands our unwavering dedication.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.

This article originally appeared in RISE Together: A Newsletter for Emerging Security Leaders, presented by SIA’s RISE community.