Industrial cyber security: what are your challenges today?

The existing needs in the area of industrial cyber security are complex enough to require solutions that are up to the circumstances. If we are all aware of the impacts generated in normal corporate environments by threats such as phishing or ransom ware

• On the one hand there is the necessary segmentation and reinforcement of the networks, establishing different layers of protection and having robust identification and access control mechanisms. In addition, the security of these industrial environments must have a cyber security approach by design, taking into account all the possible threats that may materialise from the very conception of the architectures, systems and services. 
• In addition, these requirements must be transferred in the same way to the manufacturers of devices and systems, being the responsibility of the entire supply chain move due security.
• It is also important that the proposals of industrial cyber security have the appropriate policies and procedures, where everything related to the use , acquisition and management of these systems and services is normalised . This point is closely linked to the fact of creating a corporate culture of industrial cyber security, not being a merely technical project that would have the days counted, but an institutional commitment to excellence.
• All this could be unreliable if you do not have the proper metrics and indicators, which convey how good or bad things are being done.
• In this same sense, it is fundamental to analyse how the interconnection between the control networks and the information technology environments is managed, trying to avoid that the industrial context is affected by the threats and risks that daily attack the corporate systems.

HOW ATTACKS ARE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

The development of industrial cyber security is crucial to guarantee the protection of information and access to technology. Connectivity generates many benefits, but it also implies new vulnerabilities. The risks to which the industry is exposed are varied, from human error to online criminal activity. Therefore, industrial control systems should be the order of the day.

The consequences of cyber attacks in the industrial sector are often over      looked, but they can generate very dangerous situations. These incidents can have impacts on the environment, because fines from regulatory bodies destroy products or services or even cost lives. Some companies in the sector have come to close by not contemplating a good cyber security plan.

In conclusion, creating secure industrial digital environments is not a simple task. To be able to adapt a safe procedure we must know perfectly our tools and our staff. Due to the difficulty involved in this process, every company must prioritise an action plan.

You can contemplate processes such as risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, the application of resolute measures, the creation of procedures and the training of employees. Undoubtedly, a lot of time must be spent to execute an industrial cyber security plan, but it will guarantee the safety of the workers, the company and the industrial environment itself.