The Evolving Role of the CISO and Digitalization

By Robin Whitehead, Managing Director, Boulting Technology
It's a simple fact that data makes the modern economy turn. Being the first business to act on insights gained from pivotal pieces of information gives businesses a distinct competitive advantage. However, it's also quickly becoming a fact that the same data is being targeted by skilled cybercriminals intent on causing damage to infrastructure.
This article explains how this is impacting the role of the chief information security officer (CISO) and resulting in the need for end-to-end digitalization.
Sophisticated Cyber Attacks
With the world facing sophisticated attacks such as the likes of WannaCry, Petya and NotPetya in 2017, cyber threats are the biggest modern technological fear. Although sectors such as financial services are most at risk, there have also been numerous high-profile attacks on utilities, oil and gas and food manufacturing environments in recent years.
On 27 June 2017, confectionary manufacturer Cadbury was hit by a cyber attack, which halted production at its Hobart factory in Australia. Computers were infected with the Petya ransomware virus and displayed a message on the screen demanding payment in cryptocurrency.
Later that same day, NotPetya — a variant of the Petya virus — further damaged facilities across Europe. NotPetya exploits a backdoor in the update system of a Ukrainian tax-preparation programme running on Windows and used by around 80 per cent of all Ukrainian businesses.
The New CISO
It should come as no surprise then that the advice of IT and security experts is now being sought at the highest levels of business. The role of the chief information security officer (CISO) is also changing in response. Acting as the head of IT security, the CISO has traditionally been responsible for things like operational compliance and adherence to ISO standards as well as performing IT security risk assessments and ensuring that the business is using the latest technologies.
Increasingly, the CISO must also drive IT security and strategy, guiding everyone from the shop-floor staff to the most senior officials on how best to prevent cyberattacks. The modern CISO now takes a seat at the boardroom table, ensuring business continuity, come what may.
End-to-End Digitalization
For industrial businesses, this change cannot come soon enough. The desire to integrate manufacturing networks with the outside world and the increased use of smart data is driving efficiencies in sectors from food and beverage, and automotive to utilities. At the same time, it's also leaving them vulnerable to attacks that can lead to extended periods of downtime.
Part of the reason for this is that many businesses have traditionally operated in silos, with information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) experts not historically well aligned to the same objectives and outcomes. However, as we increasingly use more internet-connected devices such as PLCs, HMIs, intelligent motor control centres and smart meters — all relaying millions of data points to centralised and often remote SCADA and ERP systems — it will become crucial to take a joined-up approach to industrial operations. Cue end-to-end digitalisation.
For many businesses, replacing hardware and software to allow functionality such as real-time cloud data, analytics and centralised control across every aspect of their operations is neither a cheap nor fast-acting undertaking.
After all, most plant managers have built up a complex system over many years, retrofitting new components and modules to existing equipment. This is driving the need for end-to-end digitalisation, moving away from fragmented system control, maintenance and upgrade towards a holistic approach that encompasses system-wide analytics that can deliver actionable insights to improve process efficiency.
So, while we come to the realisation that cyber attacks are simply a normal part of doing business, take heed of your CISO's advice and rethink your end-to-end digitalisation strategy.

Check out our free e-newsletters
to read more great articles.
MORE ARTICLES
-
Inside the Advantages of Sensorless Closed Loop Control
By Mark Checkley, KEB Automation
While feedback devices may be the usual choice for control of motors, sensorless closed loop control can provide... -
Manufacturing Automation - Inside Universal Robots Efforts to Empower the Small/Medium Enterprise
By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com
Collaborative robots are re-defining the way manufacturers operate today. To help further that process is... -
Predicting the Future of Industrial Maintenance
By Gernut van Laak, Group Automation Solutions Leader, ABB Food and Beverage
The need for factory maintenance often goes unnoticed. This article... -
Integrators Talk about Collaborative Robots: A Roundtable Discussion
By Jeff Burnstein, A3
The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) reached out to several large automation integrators to get their input on the... -
Lean Manufacturing and the Global Digital Process Automation Market
By Thomas R. Cutler
Digital Visual Management on the manufacturing plant floor is secure by creating virtual meeting rooms for real-time, 24/7,...
RELATED
-
Carnegie Mellon research aims at identifying causes for defects in 3D Printing
New research published today in Science, led by researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Argonne National Laboratory, has identified how and...
-
Calculating Acceleration for Linear Motion
By H2W Technologies
Determining the right motion control solution may require some calculations to match the specifications found on a given... -
Maplesoft and Sigmetrix announce direct operations in China
The two Cybernet Group companies now have an office in Shanghai that is staffed by local experts to provide products and solutions to their...
-
Mobile Safety in Hazardous Areas
By Pepperl+Fuchs
Mobile devices can solve many challenges in hazardous industrial environments. But a device that lacks the proper protection... -
Phoenix Contact announces Benton Central Jr./Sr. High School as winner of Nanoline Contest
For designing and building an automated Paint Brush Cleaner, this is the second consecutive win and third overall for a Benton Central team