Building Management Systems (BMS) are the invisible backbone of modern infrastructure, managing heating, cooling, lighting, and security. Far from being mere conveniences, these systems are vital controllers of physical environments, capable of enhancing or jeopardising safety. Beyond this, BMS offers benefits that boost sustainability, efficiency, and wellbeing. By optimising energy use, they reduce carbon footprints and utility costs, making buildings greener. They ensure efficient operation of HVAC, lighting, and other utilities, delivering substantial energy savings. BMS also enhances occupant comfort by maintaining ideal air quality, temperature, and lighting, fostering healthier spaces. Additionally, they support smart building initiatives, integrating with other technologies for seamless automation, further improving efficiency and sustainability. 

However, without robust cybersecurity and lifecycle management, BMS can become significant liabilities. A cyberattack on these systems doesn’t merely breach data. It can disrupt the physical world with dire consequences. The 2016 cyberattack on a German steel mill exemplifies this; hackers overrode safety protocols, causing a blast furnace to overheat, showing how digital flaws can lead to physical harm. In buildings, the stakes are just as high. A hacked BMS could disable fire sprinklers during a crisis or cause electronic doors to fail during an evacuation, underscoring the critical need for cybersecurity. 

Too often, building owners view BMS as a “set it and forget it” solution. Installed during construction or retrofitting, these systems are frequently left unpatched and unsecured, as if immune to evolving threats. This complacency misunderstands BMS’s role. It’s not just an efficiency tool but a safety component. The 2021 ransomware attack on a U.S. water treatment facility, where hackers tried to alter chemical levels, mirrors this vulnerability. Though targeting a different system, the lesson applies: BMS governs physical processes that, if tampered with, endanger lives. 

Effective lifecycle management is essential. From installation to decommissioning, BMS demands regular updates, penetration testing, and access controls to counter digital risks. Outdated software invites exploitation. Building owners must recognise BMS as a dynamic system requiring ongoing attention, not a static fixture. The cost of cybersecurity is minor compared to the fallout from a preventable breach. In a world where digital and physical realms intertwine, a secure BMS is more than a technical need. It’s a moral duty to protect those who inhabit our buildings. Complacency risks turning a system designed for safety and efficiency into a conduit for harm, making vigilance not just practical but imperative.