Cybersecurity for the Industrial Sector
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Cybersecurity in the industrial sector: your challenges
Industrial infrastructure is of vital importance to our society. At the same time, we see that the cybersecurity risks to this sector are growing. The main challenges the industrial sector faces are:
01
Increased connection between IT and OT means growing risks
Whether you are an energy company, an oil and gas distributer, a water management organization, a chemical plant or a railway operator: your critical processes are probably managed through operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems. The increased connectivity between these systems, for instance through smart meters, smart grid, and industry 4.0, mean increased vulnerabilities.
02
Attackers are targeting the industrial sector
At the same time, attackers are increasingly targeting the industrial sector, focusing on the OT systems that control critical infrastructure. Recent incidents include the 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, which disrupted U.S. fuel supplies, and the 2022 attack on Germany’s wind energy infrastructure, disrupting communications for thousands of turbines. These attacks demonstrate the growing risks to OT systems, where disruptions can have serious impacts on safety and national security.
03
More cybersecurity regulation to comply with
Regulators around the world are recognizing the need for stronger cybersecurity in the industrial sector. This means the sector is facing more cybersecurity regulation.
- In the EU, the NIS2-Directive aims at strengthening the cyber resilience of vital industries.
- In the USA several guidelines and standards in the domain of OT and ICS SCADA have been released by NIST, NERC and DHS, to strengthen the sector's defenses.
How to secure the industrial domain?
People
Security is a matter of People, Process and Technology. Recent large cases of phishing and social engineering are proof that even established organizations that take IT security seriously, have to face the reality that the human factor needs to be addressed continuously. Employees have access to important data, exchange important files, and even though they might have the knowledge and be aware of security aspects, however to get them to behave accordingly requires a comprehensive security awareness program (which includes an ICS/OT module).
Process
From a process perspective, operational systems can be fully assessed from head to tail through an OT Site Assessment, or do the NIS / WBNI Compliance check.
Technology
Within critical infrastructure, potential vulnerabilities within OT systems could lead to impactful catastrophes. Even with reputable SIEM/SOCs in place, these systems can’t be blindly trusted. Next to Red Teaming in IT, Bureau Veritas Cybersecurity also performs Red Teaming in Operational Technology domain and tests to what extent SIEM/SOC solutions actually protect against attacks.
How we support you
Bureau Veritas Cybersecurity can help you protect your company and help you comply with cybersecurity regulation. We believe that cybersecurity is not just a technical issue. Addressing the human factor and making sure you have strong cybersecurity governance in place are as crucial to your security as protecting your technical assets. This is why our services cover these three aspects:
01
People: addressing the human factor
A large cyber attack can start with one of your employees clicking on a malicious link. That is why raising the cybersecurity awareness of you staff, and making sure they behave securely is crucial. We offer the comprehensive SAFE Behavior Program for your employees.
02
Process: optimizing governance and ensuring compliance
Having the correct processes in place can make all the difference to your cybersecurity. Our OT experts can fully assess these, for instance through an OT Site Assessment. We can also help you with your NIS2 compliance, for example with a NIS2 Gap Assessment, Boardroom Training, and NIS2 Implementation Support. We can also help you improve your operational resilience with our Crisis and Resilience Services. We can also help you with your Incident Response.
03
Technology: testing for weaknesses
Industrial OT systems are complex. We can help you test them for vulnerabilities, through our specialized OT Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing. We can also assess the cyber resilience of your systems as a whole, through specialized OT Red Teaming.
Our expertise in the industrial sector
Bureau Veritas Cybersecurity has served the industrial sector for decades and has extensive experience in assessing and strengthening the security of complex OT systems. Our clients include major companies in Europe, the US, Asia and the Middle East.
Global reach
We have OT experts from around the globe, serving clients worldwide
Unique OT expertise
Because we serve many industrial clients, our experts have a unique knowledge of the sector
Market leader in NIS2 compliance
You can count on our extensive knowledge of the NIS2-Directive to help you reach compliance
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Why choose Bureau Veritas Cybersecurity
Bureau Veritas Cybersecurity is your expert partner in cybersecurity. We help organizations identify risks, strengthen defenses and comply with cybersecurity standards and regulations. Our services cover people, processes and technology, ranging from awareness training and social engineering to security advice, compliance and penetration testing.
We operate across IT, OT and IoT environments, supporting both digital systems and connected products. With over 300 cybersecurity professionals worldwide, we combine deep technical expertise with a global presence. Bureau Veritas Cybersecurity is part of the Bureau Veritas Group, a global leader in testing, inspection and certification.