Cybersecurity is a hot topic more than ever. The Cyber Resilience Centre Manufacturing Industry Zuid-Holland (CWM) wants to do something about that. At the beginning of September, the centre kicked off the CWM OT Security Simulation. This is a unique test environment where cyber attacks on Operational Technology (OT) are simulated in a safe and realistic setting. This simulation is given at the Flow Center of Excellence (FCoE), in the Sustainability Factory in Dordrecht. It is the only location in the Netherlands where companies can have this unique experience. It thereby provides insight into threats on the OT environment, allowing one to develop targeted strategies for improved cyber resilience.
With increasing digitalisation and the rise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), OT systems are increasingly connected to IT networks. This increases the risk of cyber incidents, as traditional OT networks have traditionally not been designed with strong security measures. Cyber attacks can have major consequences for entrepreneurs: from production downtime to ransomware attacks, jeopardising business continuity. Due to the strong chain dependency in the manufacturing industry, such incidents can cause a domino effect across the industry.
Experience a cyber attack in a safe environment
The CWM OT Security Simulation is a collaboration between the Cyber Resilience Centre Maakindustrie Zuid-Holland (CWM), Batenburg Techniek, the Flow Center of Excellence (FCoE), the Sustainability Factory, Da Vinci College, Hi Delta and Security Delta (HSD). The CWM OT Security Simulation offers entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to experience an (imminent) OT cyber attack in a controlled environment. Participants gain insight into the vulnerabilities and threats of OT networks and receive concrete tools to promote cybersecurity within their organisation. With real installations, the Flow Centre of Excellence provides an OT environment in which plenty of experimentation can take place. It is a place where situations may be created that should actually be avoided in practice, but are still valuable to see and experience. This makes it clear what happens when they occur. Batenburg Techniek, one of the CWM coalition partners, developed the scenario for the demonstration.
Complexity OT cybersecurity
Rob Verseijden, OT Cybersecurity Specialist, Batenburg Techniek: "The complexity of OT systems and the ever closer intertwining with IT make cybersecurity in the manufacturing industry more challenging than ever. With the scenarios in the CWM OT Security Simulation, we show entrepreneurs how cyber attacks work in practice and how they can defend against them. By raising awareness and providing concrete solutions, we help companies make their operational processes more secure and resilient. The demonstration will run through a realistic scenario revealing various attack techniques within OT networks, such as the use of infected USB sticks, unauthorised access and manipulation of SCADA systems."
Source: www.cwmaakindustrie.nl/en
The demonstration will run through a realistic scenario revealing various attack techniques within OT networks, such as the use of infected USB sticks, unauthorised access and manipulation of SCADA systems."Rob Verseijden, OT Cybersecurity Specialist, Batenburg Techniek
