FIVE MINUTES WITH ...
Q . What are the main security concerns with XIoT devices ?
» We ’ re in a tenuous situation where new digital and emerging technologies are capable of delivering so many benefits in the physical world , while security has been an afterthought .
Historically , industrial environments weren ’ t connected to the network or Internet , so the risk was mitigated . As more and more devices are connected , these longstanding cyber risks are being exposed to cybercriminals and foreign governments , who look to benefit financially or politically from our digital exposure . As organisations continue to connect more XIoT devices to their networks to support business operations , we ’ re seeing more cyberattacks against them . Our own research shows the frequency of these attacks growing , with vulnerability disclosures impacting IoT devices increased by 57 % in the first half of 2022 when compared to the second half of 2021 .
Q . The impact of attacks on XIoT devices is clearly serious – could you give some examples ?
» XIoT devices are one of the few areas within cybersecurity where a cyberattack can have a direct impact on human life . It ’ s alarming that nearly 75 % of XIoT vulnerabilities have a high impact on system and device availability . And it ’ s not just our research : over the last year , we are seeing more news headlines where cyberattacks did , or could , have a potential impact on public safety .
In February 2021 , a cyber criminal gained remote access to a water treatment facility in Florida and tried to change the chemical level by increasing the sodium hydroxide content to a dangerous level – something that has the potential to create serious harm . Seven months later , we saw the first case of a ransomware attack leading to fatality . A hospital in Alabama was hit by a ransomware attack that caused equipment to shut down and , tragically , resulted in the death of a baby . These attacks are not simply data being breached or an employee not being able to access certain files and systems . Cyberattacks against XIoT devices can have extremely serious consequences and impact humans nationwide .
16 January 2023