Security managers charged with protecting the physical security of critical national infrastructure, such as oil and gas facilities, energy generation, utilities, communications etc, should remain alert to the possibility that their operations may be vulnerable to threats of a silent, but deadly nature.
A recent survey of US IT professionals found that 61% believe that there is a high probability that a foreign nation will launch a cyberattack against critical US infrastructure sometime within the next year.
IT experts have long been warning that the security of IT-based SCADA systems – the critical programmes and hardware that control operations – is inadequate, and that hackers could cause devastating events, such as a miss-operation, an explosion, fire, malicious contamination, or a loss of containment of a polluting or poisonous substance.
Security managers should remain in continuous liaison with IT professionals in this regard.
For background documents relating to the security of SCADA, please contact David.
