https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

New partnership to raise awareness of industrial cybersecurity threats

22nd September 2017

By: Schalk Burger

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

Font size: - +

Industrial control and automation multinational Siemens and the International Society of Automation (ISA) have partnered to raise awareness of global industrial cybersecurity needs, standards and the changing security landscape, as well as provide joint expertise for production information technology (IT).

Threats to automation equipment are always changing and evolving as are protection concepts for industrial plants, a joint news release says.

“Cybersecurity needs to be addressed by industrial companies, as recent global ransomware attacks have demonstrated the possible impacts. Our customers need to adequately manage the associated risk arising from the vulnerabilities of IT, combined with the increased connectedness in our digital age,” says Siemens Plant Security Services global head Henning Rudolf.

Siemens and ISA will share expertise in protecting the automation environment based on the IEC 62443 standards and appropriate security measures through events, Webinars and educational material.

The ISA Security Compliance Institute operates a standardised assessment scheme for the IEC 62443 Industrial Automation and Control Systems cybersecurity standards. This programme has been heavily adopted by Siemens as a provider of automation equipment and industrial security services, and a global manufacturing company. The IEC 62443 standards were originally developed by ISA.

“Siemens Plant Security Services adheres to the IEC 62443 guidelines and is available for Siemens customers and third-party equipment. They provide a multilayer protection-level approach, asset inventory and tracking, patch and vulnerability management, network segmentation, industrial security management, incident handling and security consulting services,” says Rudolf.

Siemens also provides a comprehensive Product Computer Emergency Response Team for Siemens solutions. It operates several Cyber Security Operation Centres in Lisbon, in Portugal, Munich, in Germany, and Milford, in the US.

Siemens industrial security specialists based at these sites monitor industrial facilities all around the world for cyberthreats, warn companies in the event of security incidents and coordinate proactive countermeasures. These protective measures are also part of Siemens Plant Security Services.

Industrial cybersecurity is one of the central tasks of management, as a high level of security for all parties involved must be guaranteed without limiting productivity, says Rudolf. Companies must consider many factors to develop their industrial security measures. Guidelines and measures must be defined for each area.

“These organisational measures include: definition of responsibilities, awareness training for production personnel, and handling of identified/eliminated vulnerabilities while taking the production process into consideration.”

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Showroom

VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd

For over 60 years, VEGA has provided industry-leading products for the measurement of level, density, weight and pressure. As the inventor of the...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Hanna Instruments Image
Hanna Instruments (Pty) Ltd

We supply customers with practical affordable solutions for their testing needs. Our products include benchtop, portable, in-line process control...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.083 0.135s - 164pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now