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INSIGHT
Securing the future : cybersecurity in the digital age
By Robyn Grimsley
In the information age , information is a valuable commodity , and with increasing digitisation comes an increased need for digital security . The recent headlines generated by the WannaCry ransomware reinforced the importance of cybersecurity , particularly for global operations .
While most people are aware of the potential for cyberattacks and the importance of cybersecurity in a general way , the recent outbreak of the WannaCry ransomware in May made international headlines , as it affected hospitals , banks , universities , automotive companies ( including Nissan and Renault ), manufacturing plants , telecommunications companies ( including Telkom ), and even government ministries .
One of the companies affected by the outbreak was Sandvik , a global engineering group specialising in materials technology , mining , and construction . Computers handling both administration and production for the company in multiple countries were affected , and some production was forced to stop .
Although the effects of this particular attack were relatively minor , they highlight the importance of cybersecurity as we move further into the digital age . The advent of the Internet of Things ( IoT ) has given computers the ability to affect the physical world directly . Stuxnet , a worm that affected Iran ’ s nuclear programme back in 2010 , is another well-known case of malicious software causing substantial damage to industrial computer systems . Initially spread via Microsoft Windows , Stuxnet was the first malware discovered to spy on and subvert industrial systems , allowing the attackers to take control of industrial control systems and manipulate real-world equipment .
Deloitte and PwC have both published reports looking at the importance of cybersecurity given the increased connectivity that comes with the IoT . A report from Deloitte University Press ( DUP ), titled Safeguarding the Internet of Things : Being secure , vigilant , and resilient in the connected age , states that as more data is created and transmitted , so opportunities arise for more data — and more sensitive data — to be compromised .
And given the increasing adoption of advanced technology , including the telemetry devices found on many construction and mining machines , the danger is even greater . If these machines are hacked , results could range from minor interruptions to site operations , to catastrophic failures , plant shutdowns , and significant risks to site safety . This point is emphasised in Deloitte ’ s CIO perspectives : Mining industry report , published in February 2016 .
According to PwC ’ s Shaping the mine of the future report , “ Rapid advances in digital , mobile , analytics , and other technologies have transformed the global mining industry . They ’ ve also greatly increased opportunities for cybersecurity breaches that can cause significant financial , operational , and reputational damage .” The report points out that cyberattacks can potentially access almost any system “ from water and power management to ventilation systems and autonomous vehicles ”, bringing operations to a halt .
The DUP report also highlights the potential danger of the security of on-site machines being compromised , quoting the World Economic Forum ’ s Global Risks 2015 insight report : “ Hacking the location data on a car is merely an invasion of privacy , whereas hacking the control system of a car would be a threat to a life .” This threat is even higher when it comes to the kind of heavy equipment used on mining and construction sites .
The results of PwC ’ s 2017 Global digital IQ survey indicate that investments in Africa are “ focused on IoT and artificial intelligence ( 69 % and 42 % are investing heavily today , respectively )”, a trend that they expect to continue over the next three years . This focus requires us to pay more attention to ways to keep both the data and the devices that generate , record , and transmit it , secure . n
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JULY 2017