Although the traditional industrial computer manufacturing industry was not designed with security in mind, the proliferation of networks and devices, different communication channels, and the use of integrated software have made network security a focus of concern. As the Internet of Things (IoT) concept takes shape in industrial networks and production plants, security concerns associated with high levels of connectivity and integration continue to emerge. The frequency of alerts for sophisticated and targeted advanced persistent threats further exacerbates security parameters across processes and discrete industries.
According to Frost & Sullivan, the global cybersecurity market for control systems is expected to grow at a rate of 20% to 25% annually through 2021. North America and Europe will remain at the forefront of raising awareness and advancing technology to counter attacks from advanced persistent threats.
"Enterprises are now widely using a layered approach to protecting their network assets, while industry groups are developing appropriate standards," said Sonia Francisco, research analyst for industrial automation and process control at Frost & Sullivan. "Collaboration between government, industry and research institutions is critical to developing strong, industry-based standards that can accelerate the development of comprehensive security management solutions."
As IoT concepts change factory architectures, defense-by-default security strategies will give way to defense-by-design solutions. Built-in security solutions that can sense, adapt, modify, and automatically respond to threats based on different ecosystem parameters will be sought after.
Creating industry- and application-specific solutions will also be critical as information technology (IT) solutions continue to converge with operational technology (OT). Solution providers in the IT and OT ecosystems must join forces to deploy end-to-end cybersecurity solutions for industrial systems.
Francisco points out, “Consolidation of this magnitude requires a new-age workforce with both IT and OT expertise. Cybersecurity service providers can provide training and change management options to bridge the knowledge gap.”
As most industries upgrade to intelligent systems and processes, the transition of industrial cybersecurity from a reactive operating model to a proactive design concept will soon be inevitable.
