NFPA Journal - Fall 2023 - 47

detectors. Imagine being able to remotely monitor
the sensitivity of installed smoke detectors, analyze
that data, and determine if replacements are necessary
before responding to a potential nuisance
event. This is just another example of how harnessing
device data from the cloud can prove beneficial.
The ability to store a site's test and inspection
reports on a cloud database benefits not only the
building owner and service provider but also the
AHJs for that city or jurisdiction. The local bureau of
fire prevention, for instance, could be given access to
these documents or cloud access itself to aid in their
own inspections. Business owners can avoid fines for
faulty or outdated equipment while the fire prevention
bureau gains peace of mind knowing that inspected
equipment is up to date and functioning properly.
It is clear that cloud-connected fire alarm systems
can significantly aid in response time and in turn
help prevent loss of life or property. With an open
cloud connection to the fire alarm panel, events
are reported near instantaneously. Many systems
available today have the capability for an owner to
subscribe to a notification service that allows its
users to receive SMS and email alerts for events
such as alarms, troubles, and supervisory conditions.
Even though we have monitoring stations and dispatch
centers in place, these app notifications add
an important layer of detail for an incident commander
or officer who arrives on scene and is then
able to quickly assess the severity of the situation.
Cloud challenges
While the fire cloud provides great value to the fire
and life safety industry and its stakeholders, we must
also consider the challenges and limitations of using
these applications, starting with cybersecurity. This
is a fundamental concern when it comes to cloud
connectivity. The massive number of data points in
the fire cloud means it's crucial to prevent malicious
attacks that could compromise the integrity of the
fire alarm system and its peripheral devices. Stakeholders
need to ask a series of important questions
to help identify potential risk: Who has access to this
data? Where is the data hosted? How is data being
kept secure? These are all legitimate questions to
ask as a service provider, facility manager, business
owner, AHJ, and other relevant party.
Solutions already exist to keep these systems
secure and to prevent unwanted access. Multi-factor
authentication is widely implemented by many
manufacturers to ensure secure account access. Biometric
authentication such as Face ID or fingerprint
recognition is another method being implemented
in fire cloud applications. It is also advisable to look
for cloud devices or applications that adhere to recognized
IEC cybersecurity standards, such as ISO/
IEC 27001 or IEC 62443.
The 2022 edition of NFPA 72 introduces the
topic of cybersecurity with a new Chapter 11 and
provides guidance in a new Annex J. The annex
references the following frameworks: IEC-624434-2,
Security for Industrial Automation and Control
Systems, Part 4-2: Technical Security Requirements
for IACS Components; NISTIR 8259, Foundational
Cybersecurity Activities for IoT Device Manufacturers;
NIST Framework for Improving Critical
Infrastructure Cybersecurity; UL 2900-2-3, Software
Cybersecurity for Network-Connectable
Products Part 2-3: Particular Requirements for
Security and Life Signaling Systems; and other
standards or published documents acceptable to
the AHJ. These frameworks by leading cybersecurity
experts provide guidelines for manufacturing,
design, installation, and maintenance of cloud-connected
fire alarm systems.
A topic often overlooked in discussions of
cloud-connected fire alarm systems is data veracity,
or the accuracy of the data retrieved from a particular
system. While having vast amounts of data at
your disposal is beneficial, it also raises an array of
questions: How do you determine what data is correct
and up to date? How do you manage all the data
to filter for a specific event? How often is data being
extracted from the installed hardware? Most of the
answers to these questions lie in the robust backend
development of cloud applications and APIs,
which bridge the connection between the FACU and
the cloud-based web portal or mobile applications.
Users may need to verify that the readings from the
fire alarm panel accurately match what is displayed
on the front end of the cloud application.
As we imagine the future of this emerging
technology, the fire cloud will continue to evolve
alongside advancements in hardware and peripheral
system devices. The more data points that
sensors can capture, the more information cloud
applications can analyze and report to the user. Predictive
maintenance will become more streamlined,
nuisance alarms will become less prevalent, and
response times to emergencies will become progressively
quicker. Artificial intelligence (AI), including
machine learning, is a trend that has dominated
the headlines in recent years and is progressing at
a rapid pace. It would not be surprising to see manufacturers
use AI and data from the fire cloud to
enhance predictive maintenance and even predict
alarm events well before they occur.
Additional limitations exist based on building
codes, product standards, and what is adopted by
governing bodies, but it is safe to say that these
systems and codes will continue to evolve to
meet the needs of stakeholders. Embracing cloud
connectivity in fire alarm systems as an important
component of smart buildings will continue
to be a key factor in promoting safety, security,
and the preservation of life and property.
BRIAN DONOVAN is a product manager/digitalization
in the fire safety division at Siemens. MARIA MARKS is a
manager of industry relations at Siemens.
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