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As digital transformation continues, the energy sector must recognize cyber security threats that are increasingly common, innovative and sophisticated.
Jalal Bouhdada, CEO, Applied Risk. (Image source: DNV)
This is a concern among energy experts in the Middle East and Africa (MENA). Cyber security threats In the sector that 69% believe that the attack is likely to cause loss of life.
This compared to the global average of 57% is just one of the findings of Cyber priority, A research report by DNV based on a survey of more than 940 energy professionals worldwide and in-depth interviews with industry executives.
State survey Cyber security in the energy sector, the report found that energy executives expect more cyber attacks to harm lives, property, and the environment in the sector within the next two years. Indeed, these can include attacks on power grids, ship navigation systems, wind turbines and pipelines. Attackers may be foreign powers, competitors or terrorist groups.
The most recent example of a cyber attack on the energy sector came in October 2022 when Tata Power said its IT infrastructure and systems were hacked. Another, in 2020, saw hackers attempt to hack into the industrial control systems of five Israeli water facilities and attempt to raise the level of chlorine in the country’s water supply.
As OT becomes more networked and connected to IT systems, cybercriminals can more easily access control systems that operate critical infrastructure. Therefore security is a major risk with secure mechanisms in the industry designed for the offline world that may have unknown vulnerabilities that may cause them to be compromised if they are not protected from cyber attacks.
The Cyber Priorities report reveals that while some energy agencies are making real progress toward Internet resilience, Preventive action is delayed A growing threat. There are also strong signs that the energy industry and other industrial sectors need to invest urgently to ensure that cyber security incidents do not become the cause of future security incidents.
One of the challenges with industrial cyber security risk management is that there is No best practice is enough – Especially in older power infrastructures that don’t have cybersecurity built into them by design – Guide operators, suppliers, manufacturers, and authorities in building an effective national defense force.
However, hopefully it will not be a sad event for the industry Prioritize and organize safety protocols, standards and regulations. This would compare trends in the industry’s physical safety practices following events such as the 1988 Piper Alpha oil platform explosion in the North Sea and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico for material changes.
Where the energy industry has worked together to address its security challenges over the past 50 years, it has made extraordinary progress. Within a relatively short period of time, it has implemented global standards, improved the way it works and uses technology, and embedded the first safety concept throughout the entire workforce. There is no reason why a similar transformation cannot only be achieved in the field of Internet security – and before the tragedy.
As industry players are starting to come together to develop best practices – Such as the IEC 62443 standard for cybersecurity in operational technology in automation and control systems, and DNV’s recommended practices for use in the oil and gas industry. – We have to go further in our cooperation because of the cybersecurity risk. The industrial revolution has become a business risk.
It has never been more important for companies and authorities to come together to share knowledge, create best practices and develop new standards in the fight against cybercrime.
Download a copy of Cyber priority From: www.dnv.com/cyberpriority
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