The industrial Internet of Things, or IIoT, refers to the extension and application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial sectors and applications.
With an intense focus on big data, machine learning, and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, the IIoT helps industries and enterprises achieve better reliability and efficiency in their operations.
The industrial Internet of Things encompasses industrial applications, including medical devices, robotics, and software-defined production processes.
The IIoT goes past the regular consumer devices and the internetworking of tangible devices, which is usually related to the IoT.
What makes it different is the intersection of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT).
OT refers to the networking of operational processes and industrial control systems (ICSs), including supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and distributed control systems (DCSs).
The convergence of OT and IT offers industries greater system integration for optimization and automation and better clarity of logistics and the supply chain.
The control and monitoring of physical infrastructures in industrial operations, such as healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, utilities, and transportation, are made more accessible through the application of smart sensors and actuators, as well as remote control and access.
In the context of Industry 4.0, also known as the fourth industrial revolution, the IIoT is essential to preparing cyber-physical systems and production processes to transform through analytics and big data.
Real-time data from sensors and other information sources assists industrial devices and infrastructures in decision-making by providing insights and specific actions.
Machines can take on tasks that previous industrial revolutions could not and automate.
In a broader sense, the IIoT is vital to use cases related to connected environments and ecosystems, such as how factories become smart factories and cities become smart cities.
Consistent data capture and transmission among smart machines and devices provide industries and enterprises with several growth opportunities.
The data allows enterprises and industries to detect inefficiencies or errors in the supply chain, for instance, and address them immediately, thus promoting efficiency in finance and operations on a daily basis.
The right integration of the IIoT can help optimize asset use, trigger maintenance processes, and autonomously predict points of failure.
By adopting smart and connected devices, businesses can gather and analyze more substantial amounts of data faster.
This will promote performance and scalability and can also bridge the gap between general offices and production floors.
Integration of the IIoT can enable industrial entities to access a more accurate insight into how their operations are progressing and assist them with making informed business decisions.
What Are the Security Considerations and Challenges in Adopting the IIoT?
The adoption of the Industrial Internet of Things can change how industries operate.
Still, we must highlight the challenge of implementing strategies to accelerate digital transformation efforts while maintaining security amid increased connectivity.
Industries and enterprises dealing with operational technologies can expect to know their opinions on product quality and worker safety.
However, as OT is integrated into the internet, businesses are seeing the introduction of smarter and more automated machines at work, which also invites a slew of new issues that require a good understanding of the IIoT’s inner workings.
Three areas must be focused on when implementing IIoT: availability, scalability, and security.
Of course, availability and scalability may be second nature to most industrial operations since these two may already be established or have been in the business for some time.
However, security is the angle at which many companies stumble when integrating the IIoT into their operations.
For one thing, several businesses still use legacy systems and processes. Many of these have been in operation for decades and have stayed unaltered, complicating the adoption of new technologies.
Also, there is the proliferation of smart devices, which has given rise to vulnerabilities of securities as well as the concern of security accountability.
Adopters of IIoT have the de facto responsibility of keeping the setup secure and using their connected devices.
Still, device manufacturers must protect their consumers when they launch their products.
Manufacturers must be able to guarantee users’ security and offer them remedies or preventive measures when security issues arise.
Even more significant is the need for cybersecurity, which has been highlighted by the rise of more risky security incidents over the years.
Hackers securing access to connected systems pose a significant risk to the business and can lead to an abrupt shutdown of operations.
To a particular extent, enterprises and industries that adopt the IIoT must plan and operate like tech companies if they must securely manage digital and physical components.
Adopters of the industrial Internet of Things are also faced with the problem of adequately integrating IT with industrial operations, where information and connection must be secured.
Users’ data must be processed according to applicable privacy regulations, such as the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
While gathered data is vital in generating insights for infrastructures and devices, it is essential to maintain a separation between personal information and general log data.
Personally identifiable information (PII) must be saved in an encrypted database.
When unencrypted information is stored with other useful activity in the cloud, businesses could be exposed to risks.
One of the main concerns that have been found to surround the IoT is technology fragmentation.
By extension, the IIoT isn’t separated from the coexistence of various protocols, standards, and architectures.
The different uses in IIoT systems, for instance, protocols and standards such as Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) and Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), may hinder their interoperability.
What Are the Risks to IIot Systems?
Many security problems are associated with the IIoT, and they stem from the lack of necessary security measures.
Security gaps, such as inadequate authentication practices, exposed ports, and obsolete applications, contribute to the rise of risks.
If you combine these factors with having the network connected directly to the Internet, you will successfully invite more potential hazards.
Businesses may have become familiar with the likely business impact of having their IT systems go down due to malware infection or cybercrime.
However, the new convergence of IT and OT births a significant risk factor: we are talking about real-world threats that may even affect innocent civilians.
Unsecure IIoT systems can cause monetary loss and operational disruption, among other considerable consequences.
Also, connected environments can only mean more security risks, such as:
- Software vulnerabilities that can be exploited to attack systems.
- Publicly searchable internet-connected systems and devices.
- Malicious activities, like targeted attacks, hacking, and data breaches.
- System manipulation can lead to operational disruption ( product recalls) or sabotage processes (production line stoppage).
- System malfunction can damage devices’ injure operators and people nearby or damage physical facilities.
- OT systems are held for extortion, as they are compromised via the IT environment.
A typical example of a compromised OT system through the IT environment is the cyber attack of December 2015 against a power grid in Ukraine.
The enemy successfully Infected the IT infrastructure, shut down critical systems, and disrupted power in thousands of homes.
How Should Industries and Enterprises Go About Securing the IIoT?
While moving to increase productivity in operations is essential for IIoT systems, security must be regarded as equally important.
When OT is connected to the Internet, businesses can become more viable through the aid of several sensors and connected devices at work and the real-time data that they generate.
However, failing to invest in cybersecurity may undermine the benefits. At this point, security by design and embedded security approaches must be considered.
Installing a security operations center (SOC) is useful in proactively monitoring and defending businesses against the full range of threats that plague connected environments.
With this centralized unit, industries and enterprises can oversee the significant amount of alerts they may deal with and make quick responses possible.
SOCs are beneficial for facilities needing better visibility and consistent security posture analysis.
The goal of the SOC teams is to detect any unusual activity or security incidents and be able to address issues promptly before any compromise can happen.
This approach tackles the challenges of low system visibility, legacy systems, and slow response times.
With a security operation center, alerts will be prioritized, and an optimized threat correlation will enable enterprises to manage their IT and OT.
Industries and enterprises can secure the IIoT in many other ways, but the bottom line is to adopt a technique that exposes them to fewer threats.
