In control room and trading room workplaces, downtime and data breaches aren’t just inconvenient—they can be catastrophic. These mission-critical spaces require cybersecurity strategies that account for more than just software. Physical infrastructure, secure workstation setup and design, and digital safeguards must work together from the start.
A strong security-focused culture matters too, with clear policies and regular training that build secure habits. Your planning should account for access control, data protection, and how the physical space supports both. With the right foundation, the room can run safely and without disruption.
Saraval Industries works with leading technical furniture manufacturers like Evans and LaCour to provide advanced workspace solutions that support both productivity and protection. Read on to find out more about how robust design combined with built-in cybersecurity measures contribute to smarter and streamlined control and trading room environments.
Why Cybersecurity Is Essential in Control Room and Trading Environments
Cybersecurity breaches dominate today’s headlines, and the fallout can be serious. At the time of this writing, Victoria’s Secret delayed its earnings report after a cyberattack by the group Scattered Spider locked employees out of critical systems.
While the destruction wasn’t as bad as it could be, the company warned that related costs could affect future financial results. The same group is also linked to attacks on major U.K. retailers like Harrods, co-op, and Marks & Spencer, with damages expected to exceed $400M, according to Cyber Security Dive.
Now, picture that kind of disruption happening in industries where the stakes are even higher. Financial institutions, utility providers, air traffic control rooms, and public safety agencies are all facing rising cyber threats.
Control rooms and trading floors have become high-value targets for hackers since they centralize critical data, real-time decisions, and operational control. In many cases, attackers aren’t just trying to steal information, they’re aiming to interrupt how these vital systems function.
The pressure is on to either stop the attack quickly or face costly demands and escalating fallout. A single breach can ripple across entire networks, disrupting services, endangering lives, or destabilizing markets.
Regulations and Real-World Risks in the Push for Integrated Security
Control rooms and trading floors face growing cybersecurity risks. These environments handle massive amounts of sensitive data and play a key role in real-time decision-making and system control. That makes them high priority targets—and not just for attackers, but for regulators too.
Financial institutions must follow strict rules under FINRA, while utility operators are held to NERC CIP standards. These regulations are designed to protect critical infrastructure and enforce stronger data safeguards. But simply meeting compliance doesn’t guarantee true security.
That’s because physical and digital systems in these spaces are tightly connected. a gap in one area—like an unsecured workstation or unprotected access point—can create an opening for a larger breach. To be effective, secure control room design has to address both. It’s not just about locking down networks or encrypting files, it also means thinking about layout, equipment access, and how people interact with systems throughout the day.
Common Cybersecurity Risks in Control Rooms
Cyber threats often begin with overlooked details such as poorly secured workstations, lax access rules, or employees who haven’t been trained to spot red flags. Below are some of the most common risks control room environments face today:
- Phishing and insider threats: These attacks can give hackers access to log in credentials or sensitive internal systems through social engineering or poor access handling.
- Malware and ransomware: Once inside, malicious software can freeze trading activity or shut down critical operations entirely.
- Unsecured file and message sharing: Sharing sensitive data through apps like Signal or other unapproved platforms can bypass security controls and put information at risk.
- Weak physical security: Unlocked doors, unmonitored entryways, or lack of ID checks can allow unauthorized personnel to reach sensitive systems.
- Poor workstation layout: Screens positioned in open view or unsecured USB ports can expose confidential information to the wrong people.
These risks show that cybersecurity planning has to go beyond software. Stronger physical access control, better workstation design, clearer communication policies, and ongoing training all play a role in protecting critical environments.
Designing Secure Control Rooms and Trading Spaces
A large part of designing secure control rooms and trading floors means incorporating control room infrastructure security into the physical layout. The following steps help strengthen both physical and digital security from the ground up:
Plan Network and Hardware Access
Poor equipment placement, exposed cables, or unsecured access zones give attackers easy openings. Changes to the physical design can help strengthen hardware security and reduce risks from accidental damage or malicious interference.
The following design changes can help protect network hardware:
- Use of secure tech rails, cable management, and lockable storage to prevent unauthorized tampering that involves:
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- Enclosing and protect cabling from tampering or accidental disconnecting
- Keeping wires organized to avoid trip hazards and loose connections
- Limiting access to routers, converters, and other devices stored inside locked compartments
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- Separation of public vs. sensitive workstations zones, including:
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- Limiting public access areas to general monitoring or administrative tasks
- Isolating live trading terminals, control panels, and high-value operational systems
- Restricting who can physically view or interact with secure data and systems
Secure Physical Access to Critical Areas
Unauthorized physical access remains one of the easiest ways cyber attackers can reach sensitive systems. The best way to keep this from happening? Limit who can get near critical areas in the first place
To do this, you’ll want multiple layers of protection at each trading space and control room entry points. Strong perimeter defenses make it harder for intruders to get close to secure systems.
Biometric scanners, ID badge readers, locked enclosures, and surveillance cameras are all tools that can help ensure only authorized personnel reach restricted zones. Beyond entry points, visitor management protocols and secured hallways limit unnecessary movement within sensitive areas for non-essential employees.
Design Ergonomic and Secure Workstations
Industrial technical furniture designed for control rooms and trading spaces should support secure operations while helping prevent long-term injuries. Ergonomics focuses on fitting jobs to the worker by reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by repetitive motions like extended mouse use or frequently reaching for controls.
Features like sit-stand desks, adjustable monitor arms, and properly positioned input devices help operators stay comfortable and productive during the long shifts required for active trading or continuous control room oversight.
While workstations must be ergonomically designed, they also need a design that provides sensitive data protection without interrupting daily tasks. A well-designed technical workstation allows operators to stay focused while minimizing the chance of accidental data exposure.
Secure workstation features may include:
- Privacy screens that block unauthorized viewing of sensitive data
- Restricted USB ports that limit the risk of malware or unauthorized file transfers
- Operator-specific authentication that ties system access directly to authorized users
Maintain Stable Environmental Conditions
Environmental disruptions can open new vulnerabilities by forcing emergency shutdowns or triggering system failures. To prevent this, redundant power and HVAC systems help ensure operations remain uninterrupted. If primary power is lost, backup power supplies and generators take over to keep systems running without interruptions.
Meanwhile, environmental sensors monitor temperature, humidity, and airflow in real-time. These sensors allow teams to detect and address problems early, before they develop into wider system instability.
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Financial Trading Floors
Having robust cybersecurity in trading environments is non-negotiable due to high-value transactions taking place in real time and the sensitive nature of financial data.
The following cybersecurity best practices help protect these high-pressure environments:
Use Strong Access Controls
Use role-based access control (RBAC) to restrict system access based on user roles and multifactor authentication (MFA) to require multiple verification steps before giving access. These safeguards limit exposure by preventing unauthorized users from reaching sensitive systems.
Secure Desktop Architecture
Utilize computer terminals designed to limit local data storage, keeping critical information on secured servers. Storing data centrally reduces the risk of loss or theft if a terminal is compromised.
Monitor Wall and Screen Configurations
Position workstations and shared displays to limit visibility from unauthorized personnel or visitors. This precaution reduces the chance of sensitive data being viewed by people who don’t have proper clearance.
Make Data Systems Redundant
Make sure financial traders have access to live market data, even during outages or system failures, with backup data systems. These redundant systems maintain continuity and help firms stay compliant with regulations like SEC Rule 17a-4, which sets standards for proper data retention and accessibility.
Enhancing Cyber Resilience in Control Rooms
Cybersecurity for control rooms involves building them to be cyber resilient, which requires more than just having firewalls. This approach means being well-prepared for both attack and recovery. Industries like oil & gas, the military, transportation, and air traffic control all used this layered approach to keep their critical systems protected.
The following measures help strengthen that defense:
- Real-time monitoring and intrusion detection systems (IDS): Monitor networks continuously to detect threats as they happen. Real-time tools will flag unusual activity and trigger alerts, helping teams to detect threats early and respond quickly before they spread.
- Isolated VLANS and network segmentation for critical functions: Separate core systems into isolated virtual LANS to reduce risk if one segment is compromised. Network segmentation controls internal traffic and limits lateral movement by cyberattackers.
- Disaster recovery and incident response protocols: Develop clear protocols that define recovery steps after a breach or system failure. Test them regularly to keep teams prepared. Fast response times, including automated failovers and well-defined incident response plans, help maintain continuity.
- Operator training and awareness: Train operators to spot phishing attacks and suspicious behavior. Simulated phishing exercises build recognition skills, and ongoing training reinforces secure habits.
The Role of Custom Furniture in Supporting Cybersecurity
You may not think that custom furniture can play a critical role in preventing cyberattacks, but it does. In fact, some of the best protection you can provide to trading floors and control rooms is top-notch furniture designed with secure IT integration in mind.
Why Work with Saraval Industries for Secure Control Room Design
Outfitting secure trading floors and control rooms requires furniture that supports both cybersecurity measures and the demands of 24/7 operations. Saraval Industries is a full service technical furniture dealership, providing clients with access to a wide inventory of vendor-supplied solutions.
Our solutions include:
- Furniture designed with secure IT integration at the forefront, featuring:
- Hidden or secure access points for power and data
- Customized control consoles with locking storage and ergonomic layouts
- Flexible designs that allow for system upgrades as security standards change
Saraval Industries assists clients in selecting technical furniture that supports secure physical setups, including multi-monitor configurations, cable management, and heat load accommodations. Whether outfitting control rooms or trading floors, Saraval Industries helps organizations build secure, efficient workspaces.
Get Secure Control Room & Trading Room Furniture Today
As cyber threats evolve, secure trading and control rooms require more than just software updates—they demand thoughtful physical design. Saraval Industries delivers custom solutions that reinforce your cybersecurity posture while supporting operational efficiency.