Joerg Wiedecke, product manager at Infotecs, spoke about IT security of industrial facilities and machines at SIBB “Forum Industry 4.0” in Berlin, on 29 April 2015. He emphasised the crucial role of encryption for product control systems, in order to avoid unauthorised data access or, in the worst case, manipulation and industrial espionage.
The growing use of information technology to new challenges for industrial companies. Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things offer a huge potential for positioning on the market. Although the significance of Industry 4.0 increases for business and politics, manufacturing companies are not entirely prepared for merging of industry and IT yet.
A number of smart and sustainable attacks on networked systems is continuously rising. Cyber criminals develop malware that can be used to manipulate or spy out machines and equipment, such as SCADA control systems. The malware can even hide its traces and expansion. That is why often damages of the industrial equipment are not directly associated with hacker attacks. Even if the hacker attack has been detected, no company will speak publicly about it, thereby compromising its business reputation.
Moreover, production control systems can be accessed by unauthorised persons without special malware, because in general these systems have no or insufficient protection. In this case, they can be accessed over the Internet using simple tools. The problem lies in outdated networks and automation systems, which frequently use specific and proprietary communication protocols. The machines and equipment are connected with each other and usually have common and simple operational systems installed, which do not allow using of encryption mechanisms.
To ensure the necessary flexibility of the manufacturing industry and to avoid supply bottlenecks, a secure networking of production premises is needed. Industry 4.0 cannot be implemented without using smart encryption technologies.
Infotecs offers an integrated VPN solution that can be used at all levels of information management system. The ViPNet encryption technology meets the crucial requirements: centralised administration, simple installation and setup, integration into existing networks and facilities, high flexibility and top-level security.
“The ViPNet technology uses symmetrical key management”, said Joerg Wiedecke, security specialist at Infotecs GmbH. “Unprotected exchange of keys, signatures and certificates over the Internet are a potential target for attacks. Using ViPNet, you can considerably minimise this main security risk.”
“We are constantly developing our solutions and searching for industrial partner companies, especially in system networking and protection”, added Sergej Torgow, COO at Infotecs GmbH.
The presentation took place at the FLAMMSYSCOMP GmbH & Co. KG premises and was combined with a tour through the production departments of the system supplier for the automotive, household appliances and electrical industry.
This event was a next step that FLAMMSYSCOMP and Infotecs have made towards closer cooperation between industry and security providers. The organiser of the event was SIBB e. V. an association for IT and Internet industry in Berlin and Brandenburg.
The author is Anja Müller, Marketing & Communication, Infotecs
