Feature: IIOT


The manufacturing sector alone experienced an increase in breach costs to some $4.5m, 5.4% up on the previous year


Ensuring cyber resilience in the Industrial Internet of Things


By Thorsten Stremlau, Co-Chair, Trusted Computing Group Marketing Work Group


T


he remarkable growth of the Industrial Internet of Tings (IIoT), alongside the growing reliance on technologies like robots and digital twins for business operations, has created many entry points for cybercriminals. Not only are these attacks becoming more


frequent, but they are also growing in sophistication. Tis escalation necessitates countermeasures to safeguard systems. Hackers can be driven by motives ranging from espionage to sheer malice, and attacks on systems can have significant real- world consequences, which underscores the vital importance of cyber resilience. However, guarding against cyber threats can be complex,


because a single point of entry can be all it takes for hackers to bring down an organisation or disrupt its operations. Tese vulnerabilities can arise from human error, like employees opening infected emails, or soſtware updates that contain hidden, disruptive code.


42 March 2024 www.electronicsworld.co.uk


Growing attacks While large government institutions, healthcare organisations and educational establishments have typically been targets for hackers, businesses of all sizes and across all industries are now increasingly falling victim to cyberattacks. In September 2023, hackers were able to steal Social Security


numbers and drivers’ licence numbers from loyalty program customers of Caesars Entertainment, the casino and hotel giant based in Las Vegas. Te attackers accessed computer systems via a social engineering attack on an IT support contractor. Tat same month, MGM Resorts also suffered an apparent cyberattack, which leſt guests unable to enter rooms with their digital keys.


Costly breaches According to IBM, the average cost of data breaches in 2022 was $4.35m. Te manufacturing sector alone experienced an increase in breach costs to nearly $4.5m, 5.4% up on the previous year. Manufacturers oſten suffer financial and reputational damage


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