If you’ve seen the recent news about hackers hijacking screens at the headquarters of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you might be wondering: “Could that happen to my digital signage?”
It’s a fair question—and one we’ve been hearing a lot from our customers and partners.
I sat down with our security team to get answers about how Skykit helps protect your screens from unauthorized content and security breaches. Here’s what I learned about how we’re working to keep your digital signage secure.
The HUD Incident: A Wake-Up Call for Digital Signage Security
By now, many of you have probably heard about (or seen) the unauthorized content that appeared on screens at HUD. While the technical details are still emerging, our security experts tell me this incident highlights something important: digital displays are increasingly valuable communication assets, and that makes them potential targets.
As one of our security engineers put it,
“Any system that can display content to the public needs robust protection. Not just to prevent embarrassment, but to safeguard brand reputation and operational integrity.”
What’s particularly concerning about the HUD incident was the reported response: staff members scrambling to unplug TVs throughout the building to stop the unauthorized content. This reactive approach highlights a critical vulnerability in many digital signage deployments: the lack of centralized, remote control capabilities during security incidents.
The Skykit Security Advantage: A Comprehensive Approach
I’m not a cybersecurity specialist, but our team of experts has helped me understand the layers of protection built into our platform. Here’s my non-technical explanation of how Skykit works to keep your digital signage secure:
Better Ways to Log In
Our security team is pretty adamant about this one: Strong authentication matters. While basic password protection might work for your personal Netflix account, business systems need more. That’s why Skykit offers:
- Single Sign-On with Google, Microsoft, or Okta: This means your team can use the same secure login they already use for other work systems.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Our experts highly recommend this extra step, which requires an additional code sent to your phone to confirm that you are really you. As our lead security architect says, “Even if someone somehow gets your password, MFA creates another barrier to entry.”
Behind-the-Scenes Protection
Our infrastructure team has implemented several layers of protection:
- Secure Network Design: Multiple security layers protect against unauthorized access attempts.
- Regular Security Testing: Our team continually tests for vulnerabilities so they can be addressed before they become problems.
- SOC 2 Compliance: This means we’ve been independently verified to meet rigorous security standards.
Taking Control of Your Hardware Environment
A significant challenge in the digital signage industry arises from the widespread use of off-the-shelf devices for rendering content. Many digital signage players and infrastructure components are based on devices like Google Chromeboxes, Amazon Fire Sticks, Raspberry Pi, or other standard factory firmware. While cost-effective, these devices have firmware and software controlled by the manufacturer.
This lack of control can lead to serious security vulnerabilities and operational issues. When you don’t control the firmware environment, you’re at the mercy of hardware manufacturers, which can lead to:
- Security risks from unnecessary applications pre-installed by manufacturers.
- Exposed networks are caused by applications communicating with external servers.
- Unknown (or potentially malicious) code introduced by third-party libraries.
- The inability to update critical components like browser versions when needed.
Skykit’s Comprehensive Approach to Security
At Skykit, the main way we address security challenges is by taking control of the entire environment–from hardware to firmware to software. This unique combination ensures top-notch security and seamless operation. Additionally, data is always encrypted–both in transit and at rest–on the player. Even if a media player is stolen or physically accessed, someone would need encryption keys to decrypt the information on the player.
This security approach allows Skykit to:
- Update browser versions whenever necessary, ensuring that dashboards remain operational.
- Strip out unnecessary applications that could pose security risks.
- Build custom firmware tailored to specific digital signage needs.
- Lock devices into system-level kiosk mode, preventing unauthorized applications.
- Control which applications run at any given time while maintaining advanced security.
Remote Management: The HUD Scenario Reimagined with Skykit
Consider how the HUD incident would have played out differently with Skykit’s digital signage platform. Instead of staff frantically unplugging TVs across the building, administrators could have:
- Immediately removed the offending content remotely.
- Rebooted all affected devices with a single command.
- Taken screenshots to verify that appropriate content was restored.
- Implemented an emergency message or backup content while investigating the breach.
All of this can be accomplished from a single platform, regardless of where the administrator is physically located, as long as internet connectivity remains active. Remote management capability not only saves time and prevents panic—but also significantly reduces the duration of any security incident.
What’s Coming Next
Our product and security teams are always working on improvements. Here’s what they tell me is in the pipeline:
- A new Accounts portal (launching next quarter) that will make user management more transparent and comprehensive.
- Enhanced monitoring capabilities to detect potential issues sooner.
- Ongoing evaluation of emerging security standards to keep our protection current.
Simple Steps to Maximize Your Security
While talking with our security team, I asked for some straightforward advice for our customers. Here’s what they recommend:
Adapting to Evolving Security Challenges
The landscape of digital signage security is continuously evolving. The ability to adapt and respond to these changes sets companies apart in their solutions. Those who can respond swiftly and provide high uptime for business-critical content will be successful in this space.
At Skykit, we recognize the importance of being flexible and adaptive. We are focused on continuously monitoring the evolving landscape of security threats and digital signage technologies. Our infrastructure and tooling are designed to ensure that our customers’ displays are always secure and operational.
We are committed to maintaining high-security standards for our customers’ business-critical data and communications. As technologies evolve and new threats emerge, Skykit will adapt and respond with forward-thinking strategies, ensuring our customers can rely on a seamless and secure experience.
We’re Here to Help
Our security experts recognize that every organization has different needs and concerns. They can discuss your specific security requirements and help ensure the security of your digital signage deployment.
If you’d like to talk about your security setup or have questions about how we can help protect your digital signage environment, please reach out.
In a time where AI-generated content and sophisticated attacks are becoming more common, having a partner who prioritizes security isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. At Skykit, we’re committed to being that partner for you.
Want to learn more about implementing specific security measures or arranging a security assessment of your current deployment? Contact us.
