Security
Are you ready for a cyber-attack ?
As its reliance on technology grows,Dr Siraj Shaikh says the rail industry needs to learn from other sectors that have already developed strong cyber security strategies and systems
T
he modern railway is increasingly digital, with a wide range of data types blurring the boundaries between the physical domains
of the network. Take for example an individual rail car; there are several electronic sensors collecting large volumes of data, be it from its body, bogie or accessories. This data is not solely concerned with the health and usage of the vehicle itself, the ultimate aim is the monitoring of passenger safety. But vehicle data is just a fraction of all that is collected and analysed in today’s rail network. Electronic data can provide information on: • the status of systems • location, status and condition of physical assets and infrastructure
• customers, including passenger, ticketing and journey information
• freight-related information • nature of traffic and disruption caused by accidents and other issues.
The increase in extreme weather conditions and landslides in recent years means infrastructure owners and managers have had to explore new ways of using the data available to better understand the potential effects of environmental factors. Understanding and interpreting this mass of data can therefore help the rail industry to predict demand and optimise the performance of the network, through minimising disruption, enhancing customer experience, increasing capacity and reducing the environmental impact. A bigger challenge however lies in exploring how the effective use of data and digital communications can assure the safety and security of both customers and staff as the dependence between the physical and digital environments grows.
Cyber attacks not just in the electronic domain
Advances in electronic sensors and digital
platforms for communication and control have brought an enhanced capability for physical security, but increasingly, integrated and interconnected security operations mean that new attack vectors have opened up which, when coordinated across the physical and cyber space, represent a real challenge for the detection and prevention of attacks. Hence, the impact of cyber attacks is above and beyond the electronic domain, with potential for serious physical disruption and violation. The increased use of electronic ticketing , fare collection and passenger information systems could be used for fare evasion and access control. For example, the Metropolitan Police issued a warning to rail passengers to be on the alert when using electronic ticket machines, as a number of card skimming devices had been placed on keypads at ticket machines at London stations. Card
May 2013 Page 65
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