Factories today are more connected than ever, with machines, sensors, and workers sharing data instantly. But with all this connectivity comes a big risk: cyberattacks. Hackers target these networks to steal data, shut down machines, or even to cause terrorist incidents and dangerous accidents. As cyberattacks on industrial networks become more common, it’s time for a discussion on cybersecurity for industrial networks and what can be done to prevent attacks.

Strengthening Cybersecurity for Industrial Networks to Prevent Attacks

A Key Solution: Zero Trust Security

The strategy known as Zero Trust means having a network that never assumes that any user or device is safe, even if that user or device is already in the network. Every time someone or something tries to access the system, they have to prove they’re allowed to do so. At SAAB RDS, we use Zero Trust Authentication to make sure only trusted users and devices can interact with critical systems and stop hackers who pretend to be legitimate users.

Practical Steps to Strengthen Industrial Cybersecurity

Protecting industrial networks requires a combination of smart strategies and advanced technology. One key step is using strong authentication methods, like those in Zero Trust systems, but another important step is monitoring networks in real time. Doing this requires using software that can scan for and recognized unusual activity, such as a device that sending strange signals or a user who is trying to access or restricted area. If anything appears suspicious like this, the system will automatically block it. This is especially critical in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT) in manufacturing. These IoT devices are constantly collecting and sharing data to improve efficiency. But this also makes them a key target for hackers. 

Training workers is another key area of cybersecurity, because many cyberattacks begin with a simple mistake when someone clicks on a bad link in an email. Teaching employees how to spot phishing tricks can stop many attacks before they begin. It’s often useful for companies to run practice sessions where workers learn to recognize the sorts of fake emails or unsafe websites that can get everyone into trouble. Educated workers are a factory’s first line of defense.

Using Advanced Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one tool that’s making a big difference. AI can analyze tons of data quickly, and that means it excels at spotting the sort of patterns that indicate a cyberattack might be underway. A human that might not notice a hacker trying to guess passwords, but AI will recognize it instantly and shut things down. Another benefit to using AI is that, the more work it does, the smarter it becomes. This means that as it’s incorporated increasingly into your factory and your factories become more connected, the AI becomes better and better at protecting the critical infrastructure.

Encryption is also important: encryption scrambles data so only authorized people can read it. When encryption is done correctly, even if a hacker does manage to intercept the data, it all comes out in unreadable gibberish. This is an especially important way of protecting sensitive information like production plans or details of your customers. When you use encryption alongside Zero Trust, you’re creating multiple layers of protection and making it much tougher for hackers to cause harm.

Detailed Strategies to Prevent Cyberattacks

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

This requires users to verify their identity in multiple ways, like both entering a password and also a code sent to their phone. Set this up to ensure only authorized workers can access your critical systems. In a factory, MFA can stop hackers who steal passwords from controlling machines or stealing data, as they’d need additional verification they can’t easily obtain.

Segmenting Networks 

This means dividing a factory’s network into smaller, isolated sections. For example, machines running production lines would be kept separate from office computers. If a hacker breaches one section, they can’t easily move to any of the others. In manufacturing plants where IoT devices like sensors are common, this kind of network segmentation ensures that a compromised sensor won’t grant anyone access to the entire system. Setting up firewalls and access controls between segments adds extra protection and further limits a hacker’s movement.

Regular software updates are also critical to prevent attacks. Hackers love to exploit outdated software with known weaknesses, and they know that companies are often too busy to do the kind of updating that they really should. Factories must schedule updates for all devices, including older machines, but it’s tough to do this without disrupting production. Automated patch management tools, however, can do just this, applying updates during off-hours so you don’t have to worry about it. We can help you integrate just such tools into your cybersecurity solutions.

Detect and Prevent

Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) are also essential: these are tools that constantly monitor network traffic for suspicious activity, like unusual data transfers, and can automatically block threats. For instance, if a hacker tries to manipulate a machine’s controls with a signal coming from somewhere unexpected, the IDPS would immediately shut down the connection. In industrial settings, combining IDPS with AI is important so that you have enhanced security. You need the AI to learn the normal behavior of the network so that anomalies can be accurately flagged.

Security Audits

Regular security audits help prevent attacks by probing the networks for weaknesses and flagging them up. Fixing identified gaps, such as encrypting unsecure data transfers, strengthens your defenses. 

Cybersecurity is a serious concern, and we can help. Reach out to SAAB RDS today to learn more about how to make the most of the newest in smart manufacturing for your business.