By Kobus Vermeulen, direct sales executive, Process Automation at Schneider Electric.
Kobus Vermeulen, direct sales executive, Process Automation at Schneider Electric.
Today’s distributed control systems (DCS) are highly intelligent, converging OT and IT in a centralised manner that allows for simplified management and coordination of operations. It is technology evolution at its finest, but with a caveat, cybersecurity challenges.
With the emergence of convergence and interconnectivity, DCS has become susceptible to a range of threats, posing risks not only to operational continuity, but also to safety and data integrity. As it stands, interconnected DCS systems face several critical cybersecurity challenges:
• Vulnerabilities to cyberattacks: DCS systems are often targeted by cyberthreats like malware, ransomware and unauthorised access attempts.
• Legacy system risks: Many DCS systems run on legacy infrastructure with outdated security protocols, making them particularly vulnerable to cyberintrusions.
• Interoperability concerns: As industries integrate various systems and devices, interoperability challenges can create security gaps. Incompatible security standards between different devices and platforms can lead to vulnerabilities, which cyberattackers may exploit.
• Insider threats: Unauthorised or malicious activities by employees or contractors with access to DCS systems can compromise system integrity, data confidentiality, and operational security.
Best practices
Clearly, the above challenges can lead to far-reaching and even detrimental results. Apart from production loss and costly downtime, and even intellectual property theft, data breaches can also disrupt safety protocols, which can be hazardous to both man and machine.
To address DCS cybersecurity challenges, industries can adopt the following best practices:
• Security by design: Building cybersecurity into DCS technologies from the outset ensures resilience and minimises vulnerabilities.
• Access control: Limiting system access to authorised personnel only, and implementing strict authentication measures reduce the risk of insider and external threats.
• Regular updates and patching: Routine updates ensure that systems are protected against the latest vulnerabilities.
• Network segmentation: Isolating critical DCS networks from non-critical ones limits the potential spread of cyberattacks.
• Employee training: Promoting cybersecurity awareness among employees fosters a culture of security and prepares teams to handle potential threats effectively.
Schneider Electric aims to fortify DCS
Today, Schneider Electric integrates advanced cybersecurity measures into its DCS solutions, designed to protect both the OT and IT infrastructures within industrial settings. These measures include:
• OT cybersecurity solutions and services: Our solutions help organisations meet their security objectives while complying with both international and local cybersecurity standards. For example, continuous monitoring of cybersecurity performance within OT environments enables organisations to respond promptly to emerging threats.
• Network infrastructure protection: By securing OT network infrastructures and enabling convergence with IT platforms, Schneider Electric aims to offer a robust defence against cyberthreats across all industrial domains.
Additionally, our commitment to sustainability ensures that our cybersecurity offerings are designed for long-term operational stability and are aligned with digital transformation goals.
Fortifying the state in a time of cyber siege
IT in Manufacturing
In an era where borders are no longer physical, South Africa is being drawn into a new kind of conflict, one fought not with tanks and missiles, but with lines of code and silent intrusions. The digital battlefield is here, and cyber space has become the next frontier of conflict.
Read more...Levelling up workplace safety - how gamification is changing the rules of training
IT in Manufacturing
Despite the best intentions, traditional safety training often falls short, with curricula either being too generic, too passive, or ultimately unmemorable. Enter gamification, a shift in training that is redefining how businesses train for safety and live by those principles.
Read more...Reinventing data centre design: critical changes to meet surging Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
AI technologies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible which, in turn, is presenting data centres with a whole new set of challenges. Fortunately, several options are emerging which include optimising design and infrastructure for efficiency, cooling and management systems
Read more...Drakenstein Municipality aces Schneider Electric’s Sustainability Impact Award Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Drakenstein Municipality in the Western Cape has won a Sustainability Impact Award for Schneider Electric’s Anglophone Africa region, shining the spotlight on its unwavering commitment to sustainable leadership and its forward-thinking approach to ensuring a sustainable future for its coming generations.
Read more...Watts next - can IT save the planet
IT in Manufacturing
The digital age’s insatiable demand for computing power has collided with an urgent and pressing need for sustainability. As data centres and AI workloads consume unprecedented energy, IT providers are pivotal in redefining how technology intersects with environmental stewardship.
Read more...South Africa’s digital revolution:
IT in Manufacturing
South Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its technological evolution, poised to redefine itself as Africa’s leading digital powerhouse. Over the past two years, political leaders and media narratives have painted a picture of rapid digital transformation, underscoring the government’s ambition to position South Africa at the forefront of innovation.
Read more...Smart manufacturing, APC and the Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturers are prioritising the integration of smart technologies into their daily operations to stay one step ahead of the competition. In South Africa, some experts believe the country has the potential to leapfrog its global peers through the creation of smart factories.
Read more...Schneider Electric’s Five-Pillar Strategy takes the guesswork out of equip Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric’s Field Service Cycle, otherwise known as the Five-Pillar Strategy, is a structured approach to managing the lifecycle of equipment to prolong asset lifespan while reducing the total cost of ownership for customers.
Read more...Why utilities must prioritise maintenance of SA’s remote data Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
The story of power generation is more than meets the eye. Beyond energy distribution and the infrastructure are invisible, point of presence data centres located the remotest parts of our country that play a fundamental role in keeping systems running
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version