Feature

Security risks: Staying safe and sustainable

Digitalisation is a great opportunity for manufacturing. It is also one of the biggest challenges. Will Darby, Managing Director of Carlo Gavazzi, considers the importance of protecting your manufacturing plant whilst continuing to reduce your energy usage.

01/02/2022 10:56:13

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With increased automation, connectivity and data sharing comes vulnerability to cyber attacks. Whatever it is that gives a manufacturer an edge, be that a more advanced product or an ultra-efficient production
process, all of that information will be written into the data held on their company IT system and, maybe, that of their suppliers. If that information is compromised, the very future of
the business could be in jeopardy. As such, cybersecurity is not something manufacturers can afford to ignore.

More worryingly, cyber vulnerability is not confined to manufacturing processes. A production plant's energy
management system (EMS), for example, is installed to maximise energy efficiency while ensuring occupant comfort in manufacturing plants and offices. Once separate, these systems too are now integrated with company IT infrastructure,
where they are used to optimise the control of heating, air conditioning and lighting systems. This interconnectivity further exposes manufacturers to greater cyber security risks.

Read the full article in the February issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.