Page 35 - Cyber Warnings

Mission Critical Security and the Rise of the Private Internet of

Things

by Stewart Kantor, CEO, Full Spectrum

We live in a world where constant data connectivity has become the standard, allowing us to
access information from any number of devices operating over the public Internet. While
ubiquitous connectivity poses enormous opportunities for critical infrastructure, data
communications managers for our electric grids and natural gas, transportation and water
systems, are conflicted by the ease of implementation offered by the public wired and wireless
Internet. Even with strong firewalls in place, the public internet creates exposure to hacking or
cyber-attacks, which could result in partial or complete loss of control of critical systems.

The DDoS attack launched on Dyn is the most recent example of a cyber-attack that crippled
popular websites like Netflix and Twitter, and although the cost of this was mostly economic and
general inconvenience, it highlighted the exposure to the nation’s critical infrastructure as these
industries contemplate leveraging the global Internet of Things (IoT).

As an example, smart grid applications being proposed by electric utilities across millions of
square miles and millions of locations offer radical improvements in operational efficiencies
while creating enormous exposure including the loss of control or access to portions of the
electric grid. The good news is that new data communications technologies are emerging that
allow a utility to leverage the efficiencies of internet protocol with isolation from the public
internet.

The US electric grid is currently undergoing a revolution driven by the rapid adoption of millions
of renewable energy resources at the grid’s edge. In order to optimize the supply and demand
of electricity in real time, utilities need precise monitoring and control of these new sources of
generation.

Specifically, they need highly reliable and secure communications to the power inverters
attached to solar installations and power storage units. The most readily available and obvious
connections are available from public network providers either from your cell phone or cable
provider.

These networks may be appropriate for billing type function, but they are not secure or reliable
enough for a utility company for grid management.

Public Data Networks Not Available, Not Good Enough

Ensuring real-time data communications to all data control points along the grid is one of the
increasing challenges faced with the adoption of a new IoT structure – particularly with
increased network traffic over public networks and prominent threats from hackers looking to

35 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine November 2016 Edition
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