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What is the Industrial Iot (IIoT)?
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) refers to the extension and use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial fields and applications. IIoT focuses on machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, big data and machine learning to enable industries and businesses to operate more efficiently and reliably. IIoT covers industrial applications, including robotics, medical devices and software-defined manufacturing processes.
IIoT goes beyond the Internet of common consumer and physical devices typically associated with the Internet of Things. What sets IT apart is the intersection of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). OT refers to the networking of operational processes and industrial control systems (ICS), including human-machine interface (HMI), monitoring and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, distributed control systems (DCS) and programmable logic controllers (PLCS).
The convergence of IT and OT provides the industry with higher automation and optimized system integration, as well as better supply chain and logistics visibility. Physical infrastructure in industrial operations, such as agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation and utilities, can be more easily monitored and controlled through the use of smart sensors and actuators and remote access and control.
In the context of the fourth Industrial Revolution known as Industry 4.0, IIoT is an integral part of how networked physical systems and production processes can be transformed with the help of big data and analytics. Real-time data from sensors and other information sources help “make decisions” about industrial equipment and infrastructure, providing insights and concrete actions. Machines can also take on tasks that the industrial revolution could not handle before automation. In a broader context, IIoT is crucial for use cases related to connected ecosystems or environments, such as how cities become smart cities and factories become smart factories.
The consistent capture and transfer of data between smart devices and machines offers many growth opportunities for industries and enterprises. For example, this data enables industries and companies to identify errors or inefficiencies in their supply chains and address them immediately, thereby improving the day-to-day efficiency of operations and finance. Proper IIoT integration can also optimize asset usage, predict points of failure, and even automatically trigger maintenance processes.
By adopting networking and smart devices, companies are able to collect and analyze more data faster. This not only enhances scalability and performance, but also Bridges the gap between the production floor and the general office. Iiot integration can give industrial entities a more accurate picture of how their operations are evolving and help them make informed business decisions.
What are the security considerations and challenges of adopting IIoT?
The adoption of the Industrial Internet of Things can revolutionize the way industries operate, but developing strategies to facilitate digital transformation while maintaining security while improving connectivity is a challenge.
Industries and businesses dealing with operational technology can expect proficiency in areas such as worker safety and product quality. However, given that OT is being integrated into the Internet, organizations are seeing the introduction of more intelligent and automated machines at work, which in turn brings with it a new set of challenges to understand the inner workings of IIoT.
For IIoT implementations, there are three areas to focus on: availability, scalability, and security. Availability and scalability may have become second nature to industrial operations, as they may have been established or present in the business for quite some time. However, many people may encounter security issues when integrating IIoT into their operations. On the one hand, many enterprises still use legacy systems and processes. Many of these have been in operation for decades and thus remain unchanged, thus complicating the adoption of new technologies.
In addition, the proliferation of smart devices has raised security vulnerabilities and concerns about security liability. IIoT adopters are in effect responsible for ensuring that their connected devices are set up and used safely, but device manufacturers have an obligation to protect consumers when they launch their products. Manufacturers should be able to ensure the safety of users and provide preventive or remedial measures in the event of safety problems.
What’s more, as more and more major security incidents have surfaced over the years, the need for cybersecurity has come to the fore. Hackers gaining access to connected systems means not only exposing businesses to significant vulnerabilities, but also potentially shutting down operations. To some extent, industries and businesses that adopt IIoT must plan and operate like technology companies in order to safely manage physical and digital components.
Adopters also face the challenge of properly integrating industrial operations with IT, where connectivity and information need to be protected. Users’ data should be processed in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, such as the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). While the collected data plays an important role in generating insights for devices and infrastructure, personal information must be separated from general log data. Information such as personally identifiable information (PII) should be stored in an encrypted database. Storing unencrypted information in the cloud along with other related activities can mean an enterprise is exposed.
One of the major issues surrounding the Internet of Things is technology fragmentation, and the industrial Internet of Things is not immune to the coexistence of different standards, protocols and architectures. Different uses in IIoT systems, such as the use of standards and protocols such as message Queue telemetry Transmission (MQTT) and Restricted Application Protocol (CoAP), may hinder interoperability of IIoT systems.
What are the risks of IIoT systems?
Many iIOt-related security issues stem from a lack of basic security measures. Security vulnerabilities such as exposed ports, inadequate authentication practices, and outdated applications contribute to the risk. Combine these with a direct connection to the Internet, and more potential risks arise.
Companies may have become increasingly familiar with the impact that an IT system outage due to cybercrime or malware infection can have on their business. However, the convergence of IT and OT has introduced a significant new risk factor: real threats that could even affect civilians.
Unsafe IIoT systems can lead to operational disruption and loss of money, among other serious consequences. More connected environments mean more security risks, such as:
- A software vulnerability that can be used to attack a system.
- Publicly searchable networked devices and systems.
- Malicious activities such as hacks, targeted attacks and data breaches.
- A system operation that may cause an operational interruption (for example, a product recall) or disrupt a process (for example, a production line stop).
- System failure that may cause damage to equipment and physical facilities or injury to operators or nearby personnel.
- OT systems are extorted through the IT environment.
One notorious example of OT systems being compromised through the IT environment was the December 2015 cyber attack on Ukraine’s power grid, in which attackers were able to infect IT infrastructure to shut down critical systems and knock out power to thousands of homes.
How should industries and businesses protect IIoT?
While driving operational productivity is critical to IIoT systems, security should also be considered an important factor. Connecting OT to the Internet can make businesses more viable with the many sensors and connected devices at work and the real-time data they generate. But failing to invest in cyber security could undermine those benefits. This is where the design security and embedded security approach should come into play.
Having a security Operations Center (SOC) is critical to proactively monitor and defend against the various threats that affect the connected environment. This centralized unit allows industries and businesses to monitor and respond quickly to the large number of alerts they may encounter. Socs are particularly beneficial for facilities that require better visibility and ongoing analysis of their security status. The goal of the SOC team is to detect security incidents or any unusual activity and be able to resolve the problem immediately before any hazard occurs. This approach addresses challenges that can arise from legacy systems, low system visibility, and slow response times. Using SOC,
However, changes in the threat landscape and industrial infrastructure require organizations to adjust their protection measures to respond to new and unknown threats they may encounter. IIoT adopters can emphasize having a dedicated team to address security issues in OT environments because it is an area of expertise. If industries and businesses are to thrive in IT/OT convergence, recruiting security experts who can understand different types of threats and act quickly to mitigate the impact of attacks should be their top priority.
A specific set of protections built into the different layers of IIoT implementation will enable industries and enterprises to conduct business safely. These security layers include devices, networks, and the cloud.
The device layer typically includes IIoT devices and applications from different manufacturers and service providers. IIoT adopters should be able to understand how their manufacturers and service providers transfer and store data. And in the event of a security problem, manufacturers and service providers should be able to take the initiative to inform enterprises of what needs to be paid attention to.
In the network area, there are gateways, which collect data from devices. This is the part where organizations should have next-generation Intrusion Prevention systems (IPS) so that they monitor and detect potential attacks. A gateway is also a place where there is usually a control center that issues commands to different devices. The control center is the most critical place an organization should implement security enhancements to ensure it prevents malware infection or hackers from taking control of it.
Finally, the cloud is where providers should have security implementations running server-based protection to reduce the risk of hackers exploiting servers and storing data. This reiterates concerns about organisations being subject to applicable data protection penalties.
Therefore, securing IIoT systems requires connecting threat prevention and end-to-end protection, from gateway to endpoint, to be able to provide:
- Monitor and detect malware infections regularly.
- Better threat visibility and early detection of anomalies.
- Proactive prevention of threats and attacks between IT and OT.
- Secure data transfer.
- Next-generation IPS to prevent attacks from exploiting vulnerabilities.
- Server and application protection across data centers and clouds.