Cybersecurity Demands for IIoT, Courtesy of ISG Provider Lens

The National Center for Biotechnology Information, a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), presents a well-explained, laser-focused evaluation of IIoT for 2023. In short, it describes IIoT as the concept of sensors, instruments, and related devices that are fully interconnected, transparent and automated. Most often, IIoT is aimed at the intelligent improvement of manufacturing and energy management efficiencies. That said, because IIoT is still considered to be a novel approach, its landscape is susceptible to the digital mortar fire of cyber threat vectors.

The long story short? Such attacks cannot go unaddressed, and this bears repeating heavily since tech seems as if it’s in a hurry to advance further and further each day.

To shield against IIoT cyber malice, more and more enterprises are investing in right-fit technologies for securing their assets. Details about this rising demand for IIoT security solutions are now found in a new research report published last week by Information Services Group (ISG), a global technology research and advisory firm with more than 800 clients in private corporations and public sectors alike.

As it should be, cybersecurity has become a much higher priority for huge names in manufacturing, automotive, and other industries with vulnerabilities in need of new IIoT battlements, if you will. ISG believes this is urgent and goes beyond just replacing legacy systems and calling it a day; much sought-after engineers well-equipped with skills to modernize IIoT infrastructures must hit the ground running in order to keep data in the right hands.

Bob Krohn, partner at ISG, recently echoed this. “Connected systems are vulnerable to a new universe of threats that keeps expanding,” Krohn said. “Companies are quickly building capabilities to secure both operational technology and mobility.”

ISG predicts that the next wave of operational technology security solutions will, as alluded to, dial in markedly on big data. And so, enterprises are on the hunt for smart methods through which security gaps can be filled. Solutions must be as easy-to-deploy as they are efficacious. Enhanced visibility into IIoT, IoT in general, mobile and wireless assets is definitely needed to proactively derail dangers; dangers like the spoofing of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), which allow attackers to take control of vehicles, ships or aircrafts.

Those interested in diving deeper into the report can find it available here.