As we can deduce from the name itself, industrial cybersecurity refers to computer security processes applied to industrial environments.
Before going into detail about this concept, let’s look at what Industry 4.0 and cybersecurity consist of.
What is Industry 4.0?
When asked what Industry 4.0 is, we could answer that it is the technological revolution that, through technologies such as AI, robotics or the Internet of Things (IoT), is transforming the way in which companies operate, design, produce or deliver their products.
The term emerged in 2011 at an industrial fair in Germany and alludes to the industrial revolutions that humanity has previously experienced, the first of which spanned from the second half of the 18th century to the first third of the 19th century; the second reached the beginning of the First World War and the third reached the 1970s, when, for example, mobile telephony emerged.
An Industry 4.0 whose importance is high for different reasons such as the speed of decision-making by having information available instantly, the personalisation of production or the increase in productivity.
What is cybersecurity?
On the other hand, cybersecurity can be defined as the area of technology that uses strategies and tools to fight against both internal and external threats to the systems of organisations.
Its primary objective is to prevent and repel computer attacks that maliciously attempt various actions such as accessing data or introducing viruses.
The importance of cybersecurity stems from several aspects, since cyberattacks have consequences for the organisations or companies that suffer them from an operational, economic or even reputational point of view.
What is industrial cybersecurity?
Having defined the terms cybersecurity and Industry 4.0, let’s look at what industrial cybersecurity refers to.
This is defined as the protection of networks, data and systems in industrial environments, including critical infrastructures. These types of facilities range from factories to water or energy management plants.
In short: the technologies and processes with which to effectively manage the potential risks that can affect not only information technology (IT) but also operation technology (OT).
The fact that industrial environments are increasingly connected means that the potential risks of cyberattacks are skyrocketing, with the more than negative consequences that can result if they are successful: damaged equipment, stoppages in the production chain or data theft or loss.
How industrial cybersecurity can be strengthened
According to the UNIR, the preparation of industrial cybersecurity must include a series of steps.
The first is to evaluate and analyse the entire system in order to have a real ‘picture’ of the potential risks.
Once these have been detected, technical or organisational measures must be planned to help reduce the levels of risk, based on the premise that eliminating them altogether is not feasible.
The application of these measures must be accompanied by verification measures to check that they are effective.
Finally, and to guarantee its effectiveness, this protection system, once it has been set up, must be kept active.
Cybersecurity at Telefónica
‘The arrival of technologies related to the Internet of Things (IoT) has exponentially multiplied the number of connected devices in both industries and homes, which increases cybersecurity risks.’
This is how Telefónica positions itself in terms of cybersecurity, as well as considering ‘it is essential to incorporate a holistic vision (…) that covers the complete prevention, detection and response cycle and that takes into account all the actors in the value chain’.
Likewise, it is considered ‘essential that companies develop measures for the incorporation of the principle of “security by design” for all the agents involved in the value chain’.
