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5 trends shaping cybersecurity

What’s about to change cybersecurity forever? Five factors to watch.

  • min read
    • In business, you've got to be able to predict the future. But rather than juggling a crystal ball, deduct from what you already know. Leaders should scan the horizon for innovation and think through the consequences for their customers' expectations and lives. And with technological change always comes information security challenges. I've been keeping my eye on a number of developments I believe will change IT security as we know it, in the year ahead. Look into these five innovations and their implications for your business. 1. New data sources will raise new privacy concerns Tech giants just keep seeking more of customers' personal data. At the end of 2019, Google announced plans to acquire health tracking company Fitbit, and a partnership with Ascension, a healthcare records system used in 21 US states. Apple and Amazon have made similar moves toward customer's health data. Other companies of all sizes will take a similar path to track customers' habits and preferences. The sources of customer data will keep getting more diverse. One autonomous car could generate 40 terabytes of data for every eight hours of driving. What does this mean for business? Headline-grabbing examples like these mean activists and broader society will pay ever-closer attention to how data is handled. Expect increasingly stricter government regulation on data use. 2. Cybersecurity will move to a service model Many companies who've handled some cybersecurity in house are now looking to outsource, because it's faster and cheaper, and they get a better overall service. The market for managed services might almost double by 2023. It's a competitive landscape. Service providers will need to distinguish themselves by providing more specific cybersecurity services, where expertise is crucial. According to a recent Kaspersky survey, 74 percent of managed service providers named cybersecurity expertise as a key client need. And for business? Information security vendors must adapt their intelligence and expertise to a service model. Simplify delivery as services rather than products, through managed service providers. 3. Industrial cyberattacks will change cybersecurity expertise Industrial cybersecurity is now moving fast. It's all about letting organizations protect industrial endpoints as they would corporate ones. In 2019, four in five industrial organizations said they were prioritizing managing operational technology (OT) and Industrial Control System (ICS) network cyber risks in the year ahead. This emphasis will help build industrial protection expertise. We need more people who understand vulnerabilities in equipment and the Internet of Things (IoT). More industry and manufacturers will use smart components and entire IoT platforms  to improve efficiency, such as smart meters, predictive maintenance and digital twins. What should business do? The focus should be on identifying vulnerabilities in industrial equipment, and patching them fast. If you're responsible for systems critical to your industry, consider advanced threat detection and response systems, and look for industrial threats expertise. Identify what smart components you're using and make sure they're protected. 4. Machine Learning will need its own cyberattack protection Businesses are using machine learning and artificial intelligence systems more, because they can expand product and service use, from finance and banking, to manufacture and biometric authentication. Their security will be strategically important. They're also popular targets for compromise attempts, including using adversarial techniques meant to spoil machine learning algorithms. For example, bombarding an algorithm with data that may appear clean, but includes deviations too small to detect a bad sample, gradually erasing a once-clear line between clean and harmful files, triggering false positives. What should you do? Protect machine learning-driven systems from compromise with dedicated experts who understand machine learning and adversarial techniques, and can build cyber protection for each case. The same applies to cybersecurity systems that use machine learning for attack detection and response. Review these systems for vulnerability. 5. Businesses will need new ways to innovate Many tech companies innovate by acquiring start-ups. Cloud infrastructure developer VMware acquires start-ups and integrates their technology with existing products. They have a team that looks for innovations that could be useful. This approach demands resources and expertise, and it's only relevant when a company constantly seeks fresh blood. On the other hand, companies that sometimes need highly specialized innovations, but don't have internal resources to search for or nurture start-ups, will look to outsource the search and selection process to a third party with the right expertise. Third parties build a shortlist. You get to choose the best-fit start-up and how you'll interact. What should your business do? Those companies that adopt new technologies first can better attract customers and oust the competition by providing convenient, tailored services and products. But to get the most out of new projects, make sure there are no hidden risks. These five factors should give you a starting place to look in your industry for what could be about to re-shape the cybersecurity you know. There may be further niche trends that matter in your unique field. A business that's always thinking ahead is one that can use that the inevitability of change to its advantage. This article was published in February, 2020.
industrial ai

Evolution not revolution: What to expect from AI in manufacturing

  • min read
    • From assembly robots to automated warehouses – artificial intelligence (AI) and the manufacturing industry are a match made in heaven. And this just the beginning. According to a report by IDC, by 2021, 20 percent of leading manufacturers will rely on embedded intelligence (using AI, internet of things and blockchain applications) to automate processes and speed up execution times by up to 25 percent. How is AI improving the bottom line? Microsoft's recent research explains how that's benefitting firms: manufacturing businesses in the US using AI are performing 11.5 percent better than those that aren't. AI benefits industry. Why? Its possible applications are extensive. And the stats are enticing. According to McKinsey, 50 percent of companies that invest in AI over the next five to seven years will have the potential to double their cash flow; manufacturing is leading the way due to its heavy reliance on data. In a recent Forbes insight survey on AI, 44 percent of respondents from automotive and manufacturing think AI will be important to manufacturing in the next five years, while almost half (49 percent) said it was critical to success. From real-equipment maintenance to more streamlined design processes, let's take a look at some AI-led trends. The age of human-robot collaboration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GdiN6KmGCc Poor maintenance can reduce a manufacturing plant's overall productive capacity by as much as 20 percent. No wonder then, that industrial robots with embedded AI are proving popular will manufacturers. KUKA, the Chinese-owned German manufacturing company, is one of the largest manufacturers of industrial robots in the world, and they're making slick new movements. KUKA claims their LBR iiwa "is the world's first series-produced sensitive robot," which "signals the beginning of a new era in industrial robotics, where humans and robots can work side by side in close co-operation." No threat of robots outmoding us then, they claim. And it's working. LBR iiwa units are used at the BMW Group Plant in Munich, Germany, where they're helping workers insert components into car bodies during construction. Next-generation software design It's a new way of looking at things: designers or engineers enter their ultimate design goal into generative design software, complete with cost constraints, preferred materials and methods. The software then takes the original idea and explores different solutions to make it a reality on the spot. The result: you get many design possibilities, a conclusion of whether they'll work or not, and a recommendation for the best solution. It could be used from everything from aircraft wing design to plastic molds for a phone case. Brian Matthews, Vice President of Platform Engineering at Autodesk, US, says it could achieve 50,000 days of engineering in one day. Connecting the dots with smart manufacturing Put simply, smart manufacturing is the use of industrial IoT devices – those connected through the internet, able to send and receive data – and AI. According to a report by TrendForce, smart manufacturing could be worth over $320bn in 2020. And some of the big players in the industry are already well ahead in this trend. Siemens launched Mindsphere in 2016, its smart cloud for industry, allowing manufacturers to monitor machinery. For example, its latest gas turbines, packed with over 500 sensors that monitor their condition from temperature to pressure, allowing for real-time updates when they need repairing. General Electric has a similar idea with their Brilliant Factories, which utilize AI tracking and processing in the manufacturing process to find issues as they emerge. These factories are powered by Predix, their industrial IoT platform; it uses sensors to automatically capture every step of the process and monitor each piece of equipment. And the results speak for themselves. 18 percent improved equipment effectiveness at a factory in Pune, India, and a 25 percent increase in on-time delivery rates at a jet engine factory in Muskegon, US. Predictive maintenance becoming part of the program Predictive maintenance. In short: manufacturing machines repairing themselves, without our help. One step towards the era of robots? Perhaps. A load off the factory manager's mind? Definitely. IoT sensors and advanced analytics make it so, and it's set to save businesses heaps of time and resources. It's already in action. A report by Deloitte explains how predictive maintenance is built into machines used for manufacturing titanium implants. Let's break it down: titanium is so strong that it requires tools with diamond tips to cut into it, but often these tips become dull from overuse. In comes predictive maintenance, which uses the sensors and monitors to assess the shape of the machinery. In turn, they can give a warning to engineers when the tips need to be changed. Eagle-eyed supercomputers Similarly, as impeccable as our eyes are, they miss things. We're only human. This is why startups like landing.ai have developed machine-vision tools to find microscopic defects in products like circuit boards. These tools use machine-learning algorithms trained on remarkably small volumes of sample images. They can detect not only minor defects but also send immediate alerts to manufacturers. Evolution, not revolution Automation and machine learning have been around in the manufacturing sector for decades, so these developments are an evolution, not a revolution, for the industry. If you've not thought about how AI could affect your business or even your competitors, now's the time to explore it. Greater industrial connectivity, more sensors, powerful analytics and robots (to name a few) bring distinct challenges. Aime Lachapelle, of Emerton Data, says that 85 percent of the companies they surveyed aim to implement AI into their production processes. However, less than 30 percent have an AI development plan. While many manufacturers have aspirations to implement AI into operations, thorough research and training are needed beforehand. It's time to optimize your cybersecurity These technologies have the power to change the manufacturing industry for the better. But with new technology comes new risks. Anton Shipulin comments:
industrial cybersecurity

What’s the state of industrial cybersecurity today?

  • min read
    • Characterized by smart manufacturing and interconnected devices, the fourth industrial revolution is here. But just like any other interconnected system, modern industrial control systems are potential targets for cyberattacks. Cybersecurity breaches can have far-reaching consequences for industrial organizations. According to The State of Industrial Cybersecurity 2019, produced by ARC Advisory Group on behalf of Kaspersky, reputational and environmental damage, injury or even death are serious risks if systems fail. And today, the stakes are becoming higher, simply because more systems are connected and dependent on one another. According to Gartner (Magic Quadrant for Industrial IoT Platforms, Eric Goodness et al., 25 June 2019, report available to Gartner subscribers): This also means there's a lot more that can go wrong, and there are many more attack vectors for cybercriminals to exploit. Many threats originate in third parties, such as suppliers, contracting firms and technology companies. And no modern industrial operation is free from risk. Why are industrial operations a target? Cyberwarfare is no longer the stuff of dystopian science fiction. It's a very real problem now that society has grown so dependent on modern technology. Attacks may be carried out by state actors, hacktivists (internet activists) – or even competitors bent on industrial espionage. With so many new avenues for attackers to exploit, such as the industrial internet of things (IIoT), it's never been more important for cybersecurity to take front and center stage in any industrial digital transformation project. Given that a nation's ability to function depends heavily on the availability of its critical infrastructure, it's easy to see why major industrial operations are popular targets. It's a highly efficient way to cripple a rival state. But it's not just state actors that the industrial sector needs to worry about. Hacktivists, who are often not associated with any particular state, may also target certain industries for political or ethical reasons. Fortunately, there's an increased focus on OT/ICS (operational technology in industrial control systems) throughout the globe to help keep industrial businesses, and the people that depend on their services, better protected. The state of industrial cybersecurity today The latest annual report The State of Industrial Cybersecurity 2019 explores the worldwide status quo and future development of industrial cybersecurity. The report uncovers what nearly 300 industrial companies and organizations think about the landscape for industrial cybersecurity today, and what measures and processes are needed to prevent cyber-incidents in critical infrastructures and industrial enterprises. Here's some of the report's key finding: We've got a people problem Despite automation, the human factor can still put industrial processes at risk: employee errors or unintentional actions were behind one in two incidents. The growing complexity of industrial infrastructures demands more advanced protection and skills. But organizations are experiencing a shortage of professionals to handle new threats and low awareness among employees. They're worried that their OT/ICS network operators are not fully aware of the behavior that can cause cybersecurity breaches, which could explain why employee errors cause half of all ICS incidents – such as malware infections – and also more serious targeted attacks. Protecting Industrial IoT and digitization In addition to a technical and awareness boost for industrial cybersecurity, organizations need to consider specific protection for Industrial IoT which can become highly connected externally: four in ten companies are ready to connect their OT/ICS network to the cloud, using preventive maintenance or digital twins. Digitization of industrial networks and adoption of Industry 4.0 standards are in the pipeline for many industrial companies. Four out of five organizations see operational network digitalization as an important or very important task for the year ahead. OT/ICS is high priority The good news? OT/ICS cybersecurity is becoming a top priority for industrial companies (87 percent). But to achieve the right protection, they need to invest in dedicated measures and highly qualified professionals to make them work effectively. Despite stating it as a priority, only just over half of companies (57 percent) have the budget they need for industrial cybersecurity. But what are the real chances of a cyberattack? Four in 10 of the businesses surveyed hadn't experienced any kind of cyberattack in the last year. But worryingly for the rest, nearly one in three haven't implemented an incident response program. Rather than keeping everything crossed, isn't it time to invest in improving your business's cyber-defenses? Just a thought…
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Secure Futures magazine is your go-to business guide for opinions, trends and insight into the world of technology and cybersecurity. We help your business to bring on the future. Brought to you by Kaspersky, the global cybersecurity experts.

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