Review of cybersecurity issues in industrial critical infrastructure: manufacturing in perspective

Abstract

Nowadays, the industrial sector is being challenged by several cybersecurity concerns. Direct attacks by malicious persons and (or) software form part of the severe jeopardies of industrial control systems (ICSs). These affect products/production qualities, brand reputations, sales revenues, and aggravate the risks to health and safety of human lives. These have been enabled due to progressive adoption of technology trends like Industry 4.0, BYOD, mobile computing, and Internet-of-Things (IoT), in the quest for improved relevance and value of production decisions, minimised operational overheads, optimum resource utilisation, markets globalisation, etc. However, several security vulnerabilities and risks have also emerged, and are increasingly being exploited in the industrial sector especially manufacturing. To manage this phenomenon, refined and holistic (combining people, process, and technology perspectives) security strategies and solutions are required to enhance security in ICS. This paper offers an insightful review of possible solution path beginning with the understanding of ICS security trends relative to cyber threats, vulnerabilities, attacks and patterns, agents, risks, and the impacts of all these on the industrial environment and entities that depend on it. Such episteme can improve security awareness, proficiency for respective stakeholders, and advance the development of appropriate security mechanisms, and adoption of recommendations.