Critical infrastructure Cybersecurity encompasses strategies, technologies, and actions to protect systems and resources considered critical to the functioning of society and the economy. Critical infrastructure includes power grids, telecommunications systems, transport systems, water supply systems, and other resources, the breach of which could lead to serious consequences for health, security, or economic stability. In this context, Cybersecurity includes detecting, preventing, and responding to cyber attacks as well as securing SCADA systems and industrial control systems (ICSs).
Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity
Type of technology
Description of the technology
Basic elements
- Intrusion detection systems (IDSs): Network monitoring tools to identify suspicious activity.
- Security information and event management (SIEM) systems: Platforms to collect and analyse data from various sources to detect anomalies.
- SCADA systems security: Protecting industrial control systems from cyber attacks.
- Network segmentation: Separating critical systems from public networks to reduce risk.
- Backup systems: Mechanisms to protect data from loss due to cyber attacks or system failures.
Industry usage
- Energy systems: Securing power grids against cyber attacks and sabotage.
- Telecommunications: Protecting telecommunications infrastructure from disruptions and data theft.
- Transportation: Securing road and rail traffic control systems from seizure.
- Water pipes: Protecting water supply management systems from cyber attacks.
- Financial infrastructure: Ensuring continuity of operation of payment systems and cash dispensers.
Importance for the economy
Cybersecurity of critical infrastructure is key to ensuring social and economic stability. Breaches or damage to energy, transport, or telecommunications management systems can lead to serious financial losses, service interruptions, and threats to public health and safety. Protecting critical infrastructure is becoming a priority for governments and companies managing these assets to ensure operational continuity and resilience to threats.
Related technologies
Mechanism of action
- Critical infrastructure Cybersecurity is based on a layered strategy that includes monitoring the network, identifying threats, segmenting systems, and implementing protection measures. Monitoring systems, such as IDS and SIEM, analyse network traffic and system logs to detect potential threats in real time. Access control systems and network segmentation limit the possibility of intruders moving through the network, while SCADA systems and ICSs are also protected against unauthorised access and sabotage. When threats are detected, response procedures are triggered to isolate compromised resources and restore functionality.
Advantages
- Protection of operational continuity: Minimisation of the risk of interruptions to critical systems.
- Data security: Protecting sensitive information from theft or sabotage.
- Faster response to threats: Real-time threat identification and neutralisation.
- Reducing the risk of loss: Reducing financial and reputational losses due to cyber attacks.
- Regulatory compliance: Meeting legal requirements and standards for critical infrastructure protection.
Disadvantages
- Management complexity: Security integration in complex systems of critical infrastructure.
- Dependence risk: Dependence on single security technology providers.
- Zero-day attacks: Threats from previously unknown software vulnerabilities.
- Internal sabotage: Risks of rogue employees with access to systems.
- SCADA systems failure rate: High risk of failures and service interruptions due to cyber attacks.
Implementation of the technology
Required resources
- IDSs/IPSs: Intrusion detection and prevention tools.
- SIEM platforms: Systems for collecting, analysing, and responding to security incidents.
- Security Operations Centre (SOC) teams: Specialists to monitor and respond to threats.
- Network segmentation systems: Tools to isolate critical systems from public networks.
- SCADA security systems: Security of industrial process control systems.
Required competences
- IT security management: Planning and implementation of critical infrastructure protection strategies.
- Threat analysis: Ability to identify threats and respond to security incidents.
- Protection of SCADA systems: Knowledge of industrial control systems and their nature.
- Network engineering: Design and implementation of network segmentation and access security.
- Incident management: Rapid response to incidents and restoration of operational continuity.
Environmental aspects
- Energy consumption: High energy demand of monitoring and network segmentation systems.
- Waste generated: Problems with disposal of obsolete safety equipment.
- Recycling: Limited recyclability of materials from safety equipment.
- Raw material consumption: High demand for electronic components.
- Emissions of pollutants: Emissions from the operation of advanced data centres.
Legal conditions
- Critical infrastructure protection: Regulations for the protection of key assets, such as the NIS Directive.
- Data protection regulations: Regulations for the storage and processing of data in critical infrastructure.
- IT security standards: Standards for the protection of SCADA systems and ICSs.
- Telecommunications regulations: Standards for securing communication networks.
- Occupational safety: Regulations for the protection of workers from physical and digital hazards.