The use of the internet and the cyber security They need to go hand in hand, as the digital environment is the solution to many problems, in addition to helping organizations in their processes.

But there are also digital crimes, and they continue to grow, posing a threat to individuals, businesses, and governments.

As far as companies are concerned, they work with a large volume of data that they previously had no way of obtaining or storing.

High communication between devices is also a significant factor, as it increases the volume of transactions and facilitates an increase in the number of frauds.

All of this creates the perfect opportunity for cyberattacks, as they guarantee profits for criminals.

The department responsible for this care is IT, since they are accustomed to and prepared to deal with this type of problem.

Within an automated company, this care is even more important, as it can lead to even greater losses. And that's what we're going to talk about in this article.

Here, you'll understand what cybersecurity is, how it relates to Industry 4.0, and we'll give you tips on how to protect yourself. Check it out.

What is cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is a set of actions that involves procedures, technologies, and practices aimed at ensuring digital security.

Also known as cybersecurityIt prevents illegal practices and damage to computers, programs, networks, and data.

The internet is essential in the lives of individuals and organizations, as in the case of steel companiesHowever, it remains a dangerous environment that can cause harm.

With this in mind, we are always looking to protect data and information from cybercriminal attacks. This situation can cause significant damage to companies, such as:

• Spreading spam;
• Partial or total loss of data;
• Manipulation of corporate data;
• Theft of passwords, identity, and bank details;
• Espionage;
• Bribe.

In many cases, these consequences are disastrous for organizations, but they can be avoided through cybersecurity. And it becomes even more important in Industry 4.0, as we will see below.

Cybersecurity and Industry 4.0

Attacks on industrial systems generally occur through the intrusion of a small program, which can be installed within the host system.

This can happen intentionally or unintentionally, using a USB drive or email with attached content.

One of the industrial boiler making companyFor example, or any other program, you need to be aware that from the moment this program is installed, it starts working for a hacker who monitors and waits for the best moment to attack.

So, that's when he starts stealing data, changing plant parameters, among other actions. When we talk about the factory floor in industries, there is an even greater vulnerability in security, such as:

• Low-security protocols;
• Outdated antivirus software;
• Unencrypted networks at the IP level;
• Difficulty in updating SCADA systems;
• Among others.

To ensure the security of industrial data, it is necessary to manage physical and logical access at each layer of protection, granting and denying permissions.

In this way, they make access as difficult as possible, only allowing access to those authorized to reach the highest level of information.

When we talk about a cybersecurity plan, we are referring to something complex that requires specific techniques, knowledge, procedures, and tools.

A manufacturer of Galvanized pipes and fittingsFor example, one needs to consider certain aspects when planning this security, such as listening for changes, blocking access, failure contingency planning, service monitoring, and threat remediation.

To ensure minimum safety on your factory floor, there are some actions that cannot be disregarded, such as... privacy policies and internal security, access control, intrusion detection, digital signatures, systems and network monitoring.

When we talk about access blocking, we are referring to blocking unauthorized people, as well as carrying out proper tracking and not allowing items such as USB drives.

Extra care must be taken with third parties, always bearing in mind that the company is ultimately responsible for their safety.

Learn tips to protect yourself.

A company that provides machining services Like any other company, it needs to know how to take precautions and implement minimum safety measures on its factory floor.

To achieve this, there are some basic actions, such as user and equipment authentication, perimeter security of the plant, physical and logical access control, monitoring of activities performed on the network or system, and intrusion detection.

It should also encrypt all data, perform virus scans, digital signatures, and isolate and segregate assets.

There are different measures that need to be taken, so there is no single approach. In any case, it is important to provide physical protection for the plant and its systems.

To achieve this, we need to create a physical security policy to control access throughout the perimeter. It is also necessary to integrate security policies with IT, aligning them with the company's automation assets.

Risk analysis is also important, as it's how we identify the degree of access restriction needed.

There are also ways to improve network connectivity and make it more secure, using, for example, some network data security techniques.

Security zones are physical and logical groupings that utilize the same security requirements.

If a company plastic injection If you want to interconnect the security zones, you must install a conduit that acts as a bridge between them.

Remember that the security level should be defined according to the criticality of an attack and the consequences it may bring.

The company should also focus on the people who provide services for it, as well as never stop testing its data protection system.

Implementing cybersecurity in industrial automation also depends on several processes, such as thoroughly analyzing risks and creating possible scenarios, as this allows us to develop countermeasures and contingencies.

Organizations must maintain a focus on people, as safety policies will not always be followed, which can lead to errors.

Furthermore, it's important to understand that no technology is 100% secure; therefore, the procedures adopted also deserve attention.

Therefore, testing the system, monitoring it, and performing end-to-end tracking is never excessive, both for a company and... cargo handling as well as for any other.

Types of attacks that can happen

It's important to understand the types of attacks that can be committed against an organization, because this allows us to better measure the damage and stay vigilant.

DDoS, for example, is an acronym for "Distributed Denial of Service”, which in Portuguese means “Distributed Denial of Service”.

It is a type of attack that occurs when the server is intentionally overloaded, which generates many losses, such as in the commercial sector, which may have difficulties in making sales.

Malware is malicious software that encompasses a generalization of viruses, spyware, Trojan horses, scareware, and screen and key capture programs.

They help to obtain unauthorized access, as well as capture login credentials and monitor users.

Phishing is one of the most commonly used forms of attack because it spreads easily. It refers to those infamous emails with fake promotions that use the names of banks and other institutions.

When this type of email is opened and the user clicks on a link, it collects personal information and data such as credit card details, bank passwords, etc.

There are also insider attacks, carried out by people who have access to the organization's systems. industrial automation companies And all the others need to be aware of this type of attack.

It is capable of granting certain privileges to the attacker, who will use them for their own benefit. This type of attack usually occurs with the installation of malware using a USB drive.

Much of the organization's data and information can be collected and used in questionable ways, leading to various losses.

Conclusion

It's a fact that the internet and technology are present in our daily lives and facilitate processes within companies.

With the arrival of automation, as companies Companies in the industrial sector want to use this technology to their advantage to optimize their processes, improving the quality of what they produce and the daily lives of their employees.

However, it's necessary to know how to use technology and be aware of the risks it can bring. Therefore, we should never stop paying attention to the importance of cybersecurity.

With it, everything that is part of the organization, for example in a electrical cable factoryIt remains protected, without leaving any loopholes that would allow invaders to access important information.  

This text was originally developed by the blog team Investment Guide, where you can find hundreds of informative content about various segments.