Building a Resilient World: Practical Automation Cybersecurity

Key Findings on Building a Standards-Based Cybersecurity Culture

Written by Kara Phelps | May 22, 2020 9:00:00 AM

In our modern, connected world, it's still common for industrial control systems (ICS) to be left vulnerable to cyber threats. That's a major oversight. Statistics say it's only a matter of time until your systems are cyberattacked. Taking steps to secure them now may help you avoid significant damage or life-threatening situations in the future. 

Information technology (IT) cybersecurity may get most of the press, but the stakes are far higher in cyber threats to operational technology (OT). Failing to thoroughly address industrial cybersecurity can impact your equipment, your workers' lives, and your community. It's critical to make sure everyone who interacts with your organization understands how to keep cybersecurity a top priority.

The International Society of Automation (ISA)⁠—the organizing force behind the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance⁠—recently published a whitepaper that dives into the unique challenges of automation cybersecurity. Titled "An Industry Imperative: Build a Standards-Based Cybersecurity Culture for Employees, Customers, and Partners," it's accessible via a form at www.isa.org/cyberculture

Read the whitepaper to discover more about its key findings:

  • The World Economic Forum rates a large-scale breach of cybersecurity as one of the five most serious risks facing the world today—and only 23 percent of companies follow minimum security guidance
  • Securing ICS against cyberattack is a critical challenge that spans across processes, people, and technology
  • ISA/IEC 62443 standards provide guidance for how to protect and secure processes, but people will ultimately implement and monitor these practices; automation suppliers and end users must find creative ways to train and certify their employees and contractors

Request your copy of "An Industry Imperative: Build a Standards-Based Cybersecurity Culture for Employees, Customers, and Partners" by filling out a form at www.isa.org/cyberculture. You will receive an email with a link to a .pdf file of the whitepaper that you can download or print out and share with your team.