The emergence of intelligent devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) is altering industrial control system (ICS) networks, enhancing usability, efficiency, and productivity in ICS environments while also having a substantial impact on ICS security.

What is an ICS (Industrial Control System)?

Industrial control systems (ICS) are essential components

It’s been a very exciting year for ATS – and we are very glad to say that in this time marked by significant challenges and fast market changes, we’ve succeeded in keeping a close beat on new industry developments while staying aligned with the needs of our clients.

As cyber threats to critical infrastructure sites around the world continue to dominate news cycles, the topic of industrial cyber security becomes an increasingly important point of discussion.

ATS Advanced Technical Solutions is therefore happy to announce the first upcoming webinar as a certified Cisco IoT Advantage Specialization Partner.

The purpose of an ICS patch management program aims to ensure that ICS is secured and executed by testing, implementing, and deploying trusted patches. This approach helps in ensuring that the industrial control system is updated and is defended against cyber threat actors and malicious operators. It is applicable for all ICS software and hardware elements in both Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT).

Operational Technology (OT) is hardware and software that detects or produces changes by directly monitoring and controlling physical devices, processes, and events. It incorporates a comprehensive range of programmable systems or devices interacting with the physical environment.

Over the last decade, cyber-attacks on Operational Technology have increased in frequency and scale. Cyber attackers and online criminal squads have used cyberterrorism to disrupt corporations and critical infrastructure globally. Today, they are becoming even more fierce and are utilizing their resources to target Operations Technology (OT) and Industrial Control System (ICS) networks to harm humans.

IoT (INTERNET OF THINGS) devices were created in 1999. Since then, companies are continuously adding more and more IoT devices in their workspace as these devices make work a lot easier and faster. IoT devices are constantly upgrading with new features. The toaster is considered the first IoT device introduced in the market. And now there are thousands of IoT devices present in the market, for example, air quality sensors, Wi-fi typewriters, smart tennis rackets, etc.

As the newest Accenture Cyber Security report highlights, cyber attacks in 2021 continue to evolve – becoming more widespread, speeding up deployment, and getting creative in their choice of entry points and overall strategies.

Furthermore, the current trend of diversifying targets – ranging from smaller companies to huge industrial sites – means that no one is safe.

In comparison to the IT sector, cybersecurity for operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) is considerably weak. The significant reason for this is that the OT systems were not designed for a digitalized world where systems are connected via internet.
Yet the advancement towards Industrial IoT (IIoT) demands secure OT systems and protection for manufacturing processes

ATS has recently concluded its first webinar as a certified Cisco IoT Advantage Specialization Partner.

Participating in Cisco’s IoT Advantage Specialization Partner program and adding Cisco’s solution to our OT cyber security solutions portfolio, has enabled ATS to widen our cyber security strategy playbook and approach the prevailing issue of industrial cyber security issue head-on.

Energy companies are evolving as prime targets for threat actors. The growing value of business data, the importance of fuel infrastructure, and the vulnerability of networked systems are a few primary reasons this industry is exposed to malicious hackers.

Oil and gas companies need to start investing in cyber security at the earliest. Otherwise, some of the nation’s most critical infrastructure would be left wide open to future cyber attacks.

With the rise in geopolitical rivalries and disputes, the Middle East faces nation-state-sponsored cyber attacks on infrastructures such as utilities, oil and gas, and transport hubs. Meanwhile, the advancement to cloud services and digital marketing growth is fuelling a terrifying rise in consumer data theft. Critical infrastructure must segregate and defend networks while governments must bring forward new GDPR-style data security.

Some bit of good news in the field of cybersecurity at last – compared to last year’s hectic activity in malware targeting large enterprises and critical infrastructure sites, Q2 of 2021 presented relative calm.

Redoubled efforts to protect industrial operation after the tumultuous 2020, with increases in industry-wide regulations, investigation efforts by law enforcement, and progresses made by cybersecurity solution experts have all delivered significant results.

ATS, one of the most trusted ICS / OT technology solution providers in the Middle East region, today announced that it has achieved Operational Technology (OT) Specialization as part of the Fortinet Engage Partner Program.

ATS is pleased to share that our webinar in partnership with Cisco at our ATS Coffee Break Sessions Series was a huge success. The plan of the webinar included the essential need for operational technology cybersecurity.

ICS/OT cybersecurity is the central topic of CISCO’s new eBook, “OT Cyber Security.”