Rise of Wireless Technology Poses Security Risks for Manufacturers

A newly released white paper from IHS Technology reports that although the increasing network of manufacturing equipment is allowing for the benefits of flexible production and wireless mobile communications, there are drawbacks. The main issue is that this interconnectivity is exposing production sites to security breaches and cyber attacks.

This information is pertinent because wireless network connections in industrial automation components within global factories will rise from 2.1 million in 2012 to 3.4 million by 2017, according to a IHS. The current most widely-adopted protocol in the industrial space is wireless LAN (WLAN).

“The rising use of wireless networks and industrial Ethernet is leading to a growing trend in the so-called bring-your-own-device (BYOD) movement in the manufacturing business, with workers utilizing their own smartphones and tablets to monitor and control industrial equipment,” said Mark Watson, associate director, industrial automation group at IHS. “However, such devices may lack adequate security, offering hackers easy access to confidential data—or allowing them to spread malware through factory automation systems.”

To counteract this issue, manufacturing operations are using what is known as a “honeypot,” or a site that masquerades as a manufacturing network but actually diverts and gathers information about hackers.

For more information, visit IHS Technology.