By: Kobus Vermeulen - Direct Sales Executive, Process Automation at Schneider Electric

Today’s Distributed Control Systems (DCS) are highly intelligent, converging OT and IT in a centralised manner that allow for simplified management and coordination of operations. It is technology evolution at its finest but with a caveat, cybersecurity challenges.

With the convergence and interconnectivity, DCS has become susceptible to a range of threats, posing risks not only to operational continuity but also to safety and data integrity. As it stands, interconnected DCS systems face several critical cybersecurity challenges:

• Vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks - DCS systems are often targeted by cyber threats like malware, ransomware, and unauthorised access attempts. 
• Legacy system risks - many DCS systems run on legacy infrastructure with outdated security protocols, making it particularly vulnerable to cyber intrusions. 
• Interoperability concerns - as industries integrate various systems and devices, interoperability challenges can create security gaps. Incompatible security standards between different devices and platforms can lead to vulnerabilities, which cyber attackers may exploit.
• Insider threats - unauthorised or malicious activities by employees or contractors with access to DCS systems can compromise system integrity, data confidentiality, and operational security.

Best practices 

Clearly, the above challenges can lead to far-reaching and even detrimental results.  Apart from production loss and costly downtime, and even intellectual property theft, data breaches can also disrupt safety protocols which can be hazardous to both man and machine. 

To address DCS cybersecurity challenges, industries can adopt the following best practices:

• Security by design - building cybersecurity into DCS technologies from the outset ensures resilience and minimises vulnerabilities.
• Access control - limiting system access to authorised personnel only and implementing strict authentication measures reduce the risk of insider and external threats.
• Regular updates and patching - routine updates ensure that systems are protected against the latest vulnerabilities.
• Network segmentation - isolating critical DCS networks from non-critical ones limits the potential spread of cyber-attacks.
• Employee training - promoting cybersecurity awareness among employees fosters a culture of security and prepares teams to handle potential threats effectively.

Schneider Electric aims to fortify DCS

Today, Schneider Electric integrates advanced cybersecurity measures into its DCS solutions, designed to protect both the OT and IT infrastructures within industrial settings. These measures include:

• OT cybersecurity solutions and services - our solutions help organisations meet their security objectives while complying with both international and local cybersecurity standards. For example, continuous monitoring of cybersecurity performance within OT environments enables organisations to respond promptly to emerging threats.
• Network infrastructure protection - by securing OT network infrastructures and enabling convergence with IT platforms, Schneider Electric aims to offer a robust defence against cyber threats across all industrial domains.

Additionally, our commitment to sustainability ensures that our cybersecurity offerings are designed for long-term operational stability and (aligned with) digital transformation goals.