CAFM & IT “From a
security technology perspective, a
key part to any cybersecurity
strategy, must be visibility.”
PROTECTING THE WEBS OF CONNECTIVITY
A comprehensive cybersecurity programme for smart buildings incorporates the three foundations of cybersecurity for any system: people, process and technology, explains Andrea Carcano, Co-founder and CPO of Nozomi Networks.
Whether we realise it or not, buildings and facilities are becoming ‘smarter’ by the day. With this increased connectivity, they are becoming more technologically efficient, and enabling the workers inside them to be more productive.
The cost, however, is an increase in electricity consumption. In the US for example, over 70% of the electricity produced is consumed by commercial buildings, along with almost 40% of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, digitising building automaton systems like HVAC, energy, lighting control, video surveillance, access controls, elevator controls and their associated sensors, cameras and devices can help to reduce this energy consumption, improve occupant comfort, keep total cost of ownership low, operate building systems efficiently and increase the lifecycle of utilities.
However, these operational benefits likely outweigh any potential cybersecurity challenges that connectivity brings in the decision-making process. In fact, those that run most of today’s smart buildings are being confronted with shrinking resources, scarce cybersecurity talent and the issues that arise as IT converges with OT.
The digital transformation of the building automation sector also involves moving away from older proprietary systems and adopting edge-to-cloud computing architectures. This
30 | TOMORROW’S FM
has resulted in the deployment of lower cost sensors, both wired and wireless, to gather as much data as possible becoming the new normal. Yet, at the same time, the industry has a considerable infrastructure of legacy building automation systems, applications, devices, and networks that underlies it, which must be managed, maintained and gradually modernised.
According to Larry O’Brien at ARC Advisory Group, managing cyber risk for smart buildings, like traditional ICS sectors such as manufacturing and electric utilities, brings about its own specific challenges.
IT/OT convergence – Many end users and owner-operators in the building automation sector still view IT and OT cybersecurity as separate challenges. However, attackers are already exploiting gaps between IT and OT defences. For example, spam phishing is commonly used to gain privileges and entry into OT systems. Hackers are using HVAC and other poorly defended OT systems as entry points into data centres and corporate IT networks.
OT systems incorporate more IT – The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, and other sweeping technology initiatives are creating a huge wave of IT adoption at every level of the building system architecture. Edge computing devices are already replacing proprietary controllers in a
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