Shielding Efficiency and Safety: Understanding the Impact of Cybersecurity on Industrial Automation

Highlights:

• Introduction
• Protecting operational integrity, ensuring safety, and enhancing reliability
• Ukraine power grid attack and the 2020 hack of water treatment facility

Industrial automation involves the integration of Information Technology. IT refers to the computer systems and networks for data management and communication, and OT encompasses the hardware and software that control physical processes, such as machinery and equipment. The merger of IT and OT networks brings significant benefits, such as real-time monitoring and control, enhanced data analytics, and improved efficiency. However, it also brings risks, where vulnerabilities in one system can potentially compromise the other.

Data flow beyond company limits has increased due to the integration of partners, suppliers, and remote access to systems. Increasing connectivity makes their job even easier, resulting in the constant growth in the number of cyber-attacks. Not only are the potential costs of these attacks high, but they can also threaten a company’s very existence, and in the case of critical infrastructure, they can even endanger human lives. In such a scenario cybersecurity protects industrial enterprises from a constant barrage of new threats.

Protecting operational integrity, ensuring safety, and enhancing reliability

Industrial automation systems rely on accurate control and monitoring to confirm unhindered operation. Cybersecurity helps protect these systems from disruptions caused by unauthorized access or malicious software. For example, Siemens’ security measures include advanced encryption, secure communication protocols, and continuous monitoring to safeguard against potential threats. The systems also control complex infrastructure, including power plants, manufacturing facilities, and transportation networks. A cyber-attack on these systems leaves catastrophic consequences, such as equipment failure, environmental damage, or even loss of life. Strong cybersecurity helps prevent such scenarios by securing safety systems and ensuring that automated processes operate as intended.

The ransomware attacks against the IA sector in the US increased approximately 86 percent from 2022 to 2023 targeting 437 manufacturing entities in 104 manufacturing subsectors. In the last six years, the number of cyber-threat groups targeting industrial infrastructure has increased by approximately 300 percent. Many industries are subject to regulatory requirements regarding data security and operational safety. In April 2023, Microsoft partnered with Google to improve threat intelligence sharing and enhance cybersecurity measures across their platforms. In June 2023, the United States and the European Union reinforced their commitment to cybersecurity through an updated framework for cooperation. It aimed to enhance information sharing, joint responses to cyber incidents, and the development of new security technologies.

In December 2022, India and Japan signed a cybersecurity agreement to boost their mutual security. This agreement focuses on sharing cyber threat intelligence, conducting joint training exercises, and developing strategies to counter cyber threats. India's industrial automation (IA) market, worth $11 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to $23 billion by 2027, driven by key players like General Electric, Reliance Industries limited, Siemens India, and ABB India. The core technology behind IA is AI/ML-driven Industrial IoT (IIoT) networks.

This enhanced real-time logistics management, production efficiency, and customer retention resulting in a global increase of revenue in the cybersecurity for industrial automation industry.
Cybersecurity practices help organizations meet these regulations, avoiding potential fines and legal repercussions. For example, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) mandates cybersecurity standards for the electric grid. Meeting these standards guarantees that infrastructure remains secure and operational. This includes network security, regular software updates, monitoring network traffic, access authorization, and cybersecurity training for staff. The ISA/IEC 62443 standards, for instance, are a series of international standards and technical reports developed by the International Society of Automation (ISA) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for industrial automation and control systems (IACS) security. These actions help minimize the risk of attacks and improve the strength of industrial automation systems against cyberthreats.

Ukraine power grid attack and the 2020 hack of water treatment facility

On December 23, 2015, Ukraine experienced a significant cyberattack that targeted its power grid, leading to widespread blackouts. This attack believed to be orchestrated by Russian-backed hackers, marked one of the first instances of a cyber operation causing physical infrastructure disruption on such a large scale. It disrupted the electricity supply to approximately 230,000 residents in Western Ukraine, exposing the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure to cyber threats. In response, Ukrainian authorities included disconnecting the compromised systems from the grid to limit the further spread of the malware. Technicians and cybersecurity experts worked intensively to isolate the affected systems and clean up the malware. Additionally, Ukraine received support from international partners, including cybersecurity experts and infrastructure specialists, who provided technical assistance and guidance. On February 5, 2021, Attackers attempted to poison the water supply by remotely accessing the facility’s control systems in Oldsmar, Florida. They increased the concentration of sodium hydroxide, commonly known as lye, in the water supply to dangerous levels. In response to the incident, the facility increased enhancing network security protocols and restricting remote access.

Endnote

The integration of comprehensive security tactics and learning from past incidents can guide organizations to set up their automated systems and use cutting-edge technological applications to address the complicated risks associated with automation at present. Secured automation systems are anticipated to result in a highly efficient industrial infrastructure that lays the foundation of an optimized manufacturing process. Investing in cybersecurity is thus not just a necessity at present but also an essential requirement for the future of efficient industrial operations.

To get more business insights and future perspectives on cybersecurity for industry automation, reach out to our analysts today!

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