Results of a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, canvassing more than 1,600 leading experts on the Internet and computer systems and networks, predicted that a major industrial cyberattack will occur sometime within the next 10 years that will cause widespread harm to America’s security and welfare. “Widespread harm” was defined as significant loss of life or property losses/damage/theft in the tens of billions of dollars.
The International Society of Automation (ISA)—a global leader in industrial automation and control system (IACS) cybersecurity standards and compliance, training and certificate programs; and an official IMEC partner—is working with the US government and leaders throughout industry to increase awareness of growing cyberthreats and to underscore how to best combat them.
At the core of ISA’s leadership in IACS cybersecurity is the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards. Developed by international cybersecurity experts from across industry, government and academia, the standards are designed to prevent and mitigate IACS security vulnerabilities across all key industry sectors and critical infrastructure—including power generation, water treatment, petroleum and chemical processing, and other vital operations.
ISA’s expertise in IACS cybersecurity standards prompted the Obama administration to request the assistance of ISA and its umbrella association, the Automation Federation, to help prepare the US Cybersecurity Framework (released in early 2014) and help implement the provisions of the US Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014. The ISA/IEC 62443 cybersecurity standards are integral components of the US government’s plans to combat industrial cyberattacks.
ISA encourages Illinois’ manufacturing companies to strengthen their cyber defenses and become more knowledgeable about security vulnerabilities inherent in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and industrial control systems. IMEC is the connection for Illinois-based manufacturers to learn more about how you can get ahead of the threat and protect yourselves today.
ISA invites you to download and read its white paper, The Industrial Cybersecurity Problem. For more information about ISA industrial cybersecurity standards, visit the ISA website or contact ISA’s Charley Robinson via email at crobinson@isa.org or contact your local IMEC specialists at 888-806-4632 or info@imec.org.
