Page 8 - Industrial Terchnology EXTA 22nd March 2021

SMART FACTORIES...

Building blocks to a secure

network in smart factories

You cannot build a great building on a weak foundation – and the same principle
can be applied to smart factories and their security. Reinhard Mayr, head of
information security and research at Copa-Data, explains why building a secure

architecture in your plant is key for securing digital processes.

lant infrastructures are becoming The harder it is for intruders to reach its target
increasingly connected, which is driving through an infrastructure applying a zoning concept,
interconnection. As a result, plant assets the less likely they are to overcome these hurdles.
Pare at a higher risk of attack from external In turn, the plant is more secure.
sources and protecting the most important assets As a first step to protecting a plant asset, it is
should be a priority. However, true plant protection essential that plant managers understand what
can only be achieved if the entire infrastructure is devices need protecting. A good consideration to
secure – securing singular assets is not enough. make is which assets hold the most valuable data

March 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p8