It is important to emphasize that, with the digital transformation and the increase in the use of digital media identified in recent years, there has also been a spike in the practice of cybercrime, that is, those crimes that occur through virtual means.

These crimes are usually performed by cybercriminals, who are holders of technical knowledge about internal computer systems and electronic devices, programs, and networks.

Cybercrime can occur in different ways and for different reasons. In general, users who become victims end up having their information and data stolen or their accounts hacked by criminals, which often results in episodes that can bring disastrous and immense damage to the victims.

Therefore, it is ideal to establish preventive security measures before attacks occur. There are currently many ways to ensure greater protection of your data and information.

Keep reading the article and learn more about the problem of data theft and what should be done as preventive measures.

The Biggest Data Thefts of Recent Years and the Current Cyber Scenario

We all know that cyber vulnerabilities are not a current issue. However, with the evolution of technology and virtualization growing in all areas of society, cybercrime becomes more and more frequent, creating a critical problem that deserves a lot of attention from the digital security industry. 

One of the biggest challenges is to keep up with the evolution of these crimes, because as technology advances, crimes become increasingly strategic and sophisticated, requiring even more technological advances and security efforts, in addition to repeating a cycle that is difficult to prevent.

According to data from FortiGuard Labs, the year 2020 had 41 billion attempts of cyberattacks in Latin America. The good news is that while these attempts are taking place, the cybersecurity industry has also worked hard and strengthened itself to ensure as much security as possible for digital media and to weaken this cycle of attacks.

To get a sense of the scale of this problem, here is a summary of the top 5 data thefts in recent years.

Solar Winds: The Biggest and Most Sophisticated Attack in History

In 2020, Solar Winds, an information infrastructure company, suffered what can be considered, according to Microsoft’s President Brad Smith, as “the biggest and most sophisticated attack the world has ever seen”. This is because several tactics and techniques of cyber invasion and espionage were employed. 

Cybercriminals have inserted malicious software into Solar Winds’ monitoring software update that has been sent to up to 18,000 customers. These include Microsoft companies and the US Departments of Energy, Justice, and Nuclear Safety. But it was FireEye, one of the Solar Winds’ client companies, the first victim to identify the attack. 

In the Microsoft attack alone, according to its president, at least a thousand engineers took part. Ongoing investigations indicate that the operation is very complex and surprising even for specialists, as it combines very advanced and stealthy techniques, which have bypassed the radar of the most experienced security specialists. This made everyone apprehensive about a critical vulnerability in the technology infrastructure.

Colossal DDoS Attack Against Dyn

Dyn, an American company of DNS (Domain Name System) services, has suffered a DDoS attack, which, in general, is a type of attack that intensifies data traffic and overloads a certain server, making it unavailable to users.

This attack caused a system crash for all the company’s customers in 2016, who had virtual newspapers and magazines from the United States and other large companies among them: Amazon, Netflix, PayPal, Spotify, Tumblr, Twitter, GitHub, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network. 

It was an event known as “The American Internet Blackout”, one of the biggest DDoS attacks in recent times.

ASUS Automatic Updates

One of the largest laptop manufacturers in the world, ASUS, was the target of a cybercriminal attack in 2018, with an automatic software update that infected nearly 1 million users worldwide. 

The attack targeted 600 computers, but the malware spread and reached more users. As the attackers used the company’s legitimate security certificate during the action, it was almost impossible to raise suspicion.

This type of crime can increase users’ distrust and lead them to avoid machine upgrades, which can raise the level of vulnerabilities and cause even bigger problems. 

 STJ: Great Cyberattack in Brazil

Brazil is one of the countries with the highest number of users connected to the Internet, and according to the Internet Security Threat Report, released in 2019, the country occupies third place in the ranking of cyberattack attempts, fourth in bot attacks, and seventh in crypto-jacking.

As might be expected, government agencies are not left out of vulnerability to cybercrime. In Brazil, the biggest data attack involved the STJ (Supreme Court of Justice), a target of the ransomware action, which invaded more than 1,200 servers of the institution and destroyed the backups on the machines. 

On the scale of this attack, Marta Schuh, Director of Cyber Insurance at the international broker Marsh, stated that: “It was like the STJ databases could be placed inside an incinerator.” As expected, the criminals offered to ransom the information in exchange for a sum of money.

Leak of Sensitive Data from Over 100 Million Americans

Paige A. Thompson, a former Amazon employee, was responsible for hacking the database of Capital One, a US financial institution, compromising the data of more than 100 million Americans and 6 million Canadians by obtaining access to personal data of credit card requests. 

Although the affected information does not contain the users’ credit card numbers, as Capital One claimed, the damage will cost around $150 million to boost the institution’s digital security.

What Should Be Done to Remedy the Theft of Information and Data?

When an organization experiences a security incident, such as cybercrime, it needs to act promptly and quickly. We are not always prepared to deal with situations like these, but it is necessary to remain calm and take action.

Of course, actions should be taken according to the specific type of attack that took place and what was actually stolen or hacked into.

Therefore, carefully read the possibilities listed below on which procedures should be taken in these cases and see which ones fit best for you.

Identify the Action of the Intruders

It is important to find out how the criminal action took place and what data was disclosed. 

Thus, the procedure must take place so that the necessary measures are taken in order to restrain the results of the crime and prevent further invasions.

You can start an investigation through companies specializing in cybercrime and hard evidence.

Look for Evidence of Crime

When becoming a victim of a cybercrime, if possible, you must record the evidence of the crime.

In this sense, it is worth noting that the most correct and secure means is through specific solutions that allow the recording of all actions performed in the environment.

This can even assist in the incident remediation process, reducing operational and downtime costs.

Change Your Passwords Immediately

Another important action to be taken if you have suffered a cyberattack in which there was data theft, and also one of the ways to minimize the problem, is the immediate change of your passwords, whether for emails, networks that may be related to the theft, or for your systems.

This will prevent criminals from continuing to develop other types of damage that can be done by using your stolen data.

Check the Backup of Your Files

The use of software that backs up your information and data automatically and efficiently is a preventive measure that can help a lot in these moments.

If you have already performed this procedure, the chance of recovering your information will be much greater, so check the backup of your files and see if you can recover them.

Communicate About Information Leaks

If the information that was leaked is related to other individuals, such as employees or consumers, they must be informed about what happened and about the measures being taken about the case.

This behavior is an ethical measure, which must be carried out clearly and objectively.

Analyze the Weaknesses that Made the Invasion and Theft of Your Data Possible and Invest in Security

In addition to looking for those responsible for information leaks, it is important to recognize the limitations and deficiencies that allowed intruders access to your system.

When recognizing them, it is essential to take appropriate action so that future losses are avoided.

But What Can You Do to Prevent Data and Information Theft in Your Company?

Now that we have already talked extensively about the current cybercrime scenario involving data theft and what should be done when these incidents happen, it is time to present the main measures to prevent data theft.

One of the worst scenarios involving cyber incidents is just reacting when they happen. The best cybersecurity frameworks encourage prevention practices and the development of secure processes and projects from the beginning.

So, learn what you can do today to improve your cyber posture in the face of information theft.

Invest in Privileged Credential Management

To ensure information security, you need to develop prevention practices regularly, such as managing your company’s privileged accounts.

A solution that does not provide this function leaves the security of your information with many loopholes, which makes a cyberattack possible.

With this capability, your company can manage all active privileged credentials and confirm the privilege level of each one, verifying it is appropriate for such users to have access to certain environments, in addition to being able to revoke credentials that are no longer required, such as from former employees.

To avoid the risk of information being leaked, besides verifying access to privileged credentials, it is important to properly manage it through the automatic change of passwords.

Prioritize Strong Backups and Passwords

This practice is very simple and, at the same time, essential. Through a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution, one can implement effective credential management and make associated passwords available to users, however, it is necessary to have some kind of guarantee that all privileged credentials have strong passwords, difficult to be broken with the use of malicious software.

The ideal is to guide the user to create a complex password that mixes upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters, with at least 8 characters.

In addition, the backup appears as one of the last options for data protection, which guarantees that even with leaked and/or deleted information, the company has access to all elements protected by the privileged access management solution.

Implement Two-Factor Authentication Mechanisms

The main solutions on the market require two-factor authentication from the user, usually through an OTP (One-Time Password). It is also possible to send an SMS or an email with a confirmation code for someone to be able to use the privileged credential.

This type of capability makes it difficult for unauthorized people to use the privileged user’s credentials.

The use of multifactor authentication (MFA) comes as a tool to prevent attacks from cybercriminals seeking to get hold of important information, such as credentials and passwords. MFA brings greater security to user data, through additional authentication, as well as, of course, the already known password.

Have Emergency Access

If any kind of security incident occurs that puts your company at risk, it is necessary to rely on one last capability of the security system, something like “glass breaking”. In the event of any type of failure or even a cyberattack, the person responsible for data security has the autonomy to remove privileged credentials through a dedicated backup file.

Finally, the access report is essential so that the person in charge has a broad view of the actions carried out through the privileged sessions, in order to allow the identification of security gaps and possible points for improvement.

PAM As a Way to Prevent Data Theft

A PAM solution is one of the main ways to guarantee the protection of a company’s confidential information and that all activities are tracked and audited.

Privileged Access Management, also called Privileged Identity Management, enables organizations to protect their privileged credentials. In addition, PAM ensures the effectiveness of least privilege policies by reducing attack vectors and possible data leaks.

Gartner believes that a PAM solution helps organizations securely provide privileged access to critical assets and meet compliance requirements by managing and monitoring privileged access and accounts. 

Basically, a PAM solution works as a secure credential repository for devices installed in the environment. Based on the management of user privileges, one can allow users to access only the data required for them to perform their activities. Thus, the information security team can configure user access profiles, avoiding improper access to systems and data.

Learn About the senhasegura Solution

In order to avoid data theft and traceability of actions in networks, databases, servers, and devices, senhasegura works to ensure digital sovereignty for institutions in several areas.

The solution is recommended for companies in the following scenarios:

• Companies with more than 10 users.
• Companies that received points of attention in auditing.
• Companies that must comply with cybersecurity rules and regulations.
• Companies that want to implement the best security practices.
• Companies that have suffered a security incident.
• Companies that need to reduce operating costs.

senhasegura allows companies to implement the most strict and complex controls on access to privileged credentials in an automated and centralized manner, protecting the IT infrastructure from data breaches and potential compliance breaches.

It is also ready to meet business and market compliance requirements such as LGPD, GDPR, PCI DSS, SOX, NIST, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and ISA 62443.

Did you like our article and would like to have more details? senhasegura strives to ensure the sovereignty of companies’ actions and privileged information. To do so, we work against data theft and through traceability of administrator actions on networks, servers, databases, and a multitude of devices through a PAM solution.

With the emergence of cloud-based technologies, there is a growing demand and the consequent increase in services offered in this format. In this scenario, in which there were only two or three credentials to perform online tasks, today, the user is forced to deal with so many that they can barely remember them. 

In addition to having to remember complex passwords, users also need to keep in mind that many systems have a reduced number of access attempts. Thus, if one enters the wrong password, they will eventually have little chance of entering the right one before the access is blocked. So, the best thing to do is to use words that are easily typed and memorized.

Recent research by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reported that for the fifth consecutive year, “123456” is the most commonly used number sequence by users for passwords. The word “password” is another recurring top choice in this list of commonly used passwords, also because it is easier to memorize and type, even if it does not guarantee security.

The question is: Considering these passwords as insecure and easy to guess, why do people continue to use them? 

Users are expected to memorize their passwords and enter them correctly on the first try. However, the complexity required in password policies used by services and companies makes creating a strong and usable password difficult for both ordinary and advanced users.

We invite you to keep reading today’s article and discover how the password reset process is essential for Privileged Access Management and consequently for a better cybersecurity posture.

The Problem of Managing and Maintaining Strong Passwords

The combination of user and password has been used as a basic defense mechanism for computer systems since the beginning of their implementation, preventing unauthorized access to data stored on systems and devices. Despite the creation of authentication mechanisms without a password, such as biometrics or one-time passwords (OTP), the combination of user and password is still widely used to access systems and devices. 

This is because such a combination is easy and inexpensive to implement. In a digital transformation scenario, the multiplication of systems, devices, and their respective credentials is a perfect scenario for malicious attackers to collect passwords and, thus, access data improperly. 

After all, remembering a password is much easier than the dozens (or even hundreds) of services that require some kind of authentication. It is estimated that the number of passwords per user is between 70 and 100. 

Email accounts (personal and professional), banking services, corporate systems, devices, and applications are some examples that require authentication through passwords. And with the increase in the number of data leaks, it is easy to find compromised credentials on forums on the dark web being sold for pennies. 

And yes, we know that it is not easy to manage so many passwords. Even the most tech-savvy can struggle to manage and protect credentials in so many different environments. 

In times of personal data protection legislation, such as LGPD and GDPR, ensuring the protection of such data has become more than a security requirement – it is a business must. 

Despite all the risks associated with their use, many users and companies use passwords that are easy to guess, such as numbers or sequential letters (123456 or abcdef). SolarWinds itself, the victim of a serious attack on its supply chain, was using the password solarwinds123 in its infrastructure.

The Main Attacks Involving Access Passwords

It is essential to understand the types of attacks that passwords can suffer in order to be able to create a robust password policy. Some of these attacks and vulnerabilities involve: 

• Dictionary Attacks. A list (dictionary) made up of words and combinations is used to compare captured hashes with the list items and thus try to find the password. It is still possible to use the list to access accounts through brute force attacks. 
• Credential Stuffing: Leaked credentials used when attempting to access other accounts, succeeding when the user reuses the same credentials (username and password) on more than one account. 
• Replacement: Authentication by the attacker is successfully performed by replacing a password or username already known by the attacker through some leak. 
• Password Recovery: When the password recovery process has flaws, the attacker can impersonate the victim and gain access to the password or even change the current password to one of their own. This can happen, for example, when the user uses the easily guessable question-and-answer feature in the password recovery process. 
• Social Engineering: The use of social techniques to mislead the user and illegally obtain access to credentials or use the same techniques to install password-stealing software.
• Keylogging: A malware that, when installed on the system, can copy all information that is being entered by the user, including their passwords. 
• Bad Hashes: Attacks that can be used to recover passwords, especially if the hashing algorithm has known flaws, such as MD5.

The password policies can be combined with software and tools to further protect systems and devices. Some of these tools include Password Managers; or for organizations that want to protect their assets, Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions. 

Password Managers and PAM Solutions

Password managers and PAM solutions are tools and software that can generate secure passwords and automatically authenticate the system, eliminating the users’ task of remembering and entering passwords for different accounts.

It is worth remembering, however, the importance of protecting and never losing access to these tools: once the access credential is compromised, all accounts connected to the user may be lost. And it is also worth keeping these passwords up to date because if a vulnerability is exploited, all stored passwords will be exposed. 

If there is a suspicion that the password policy or passwords themselves are compromised, the recommendation is for the company to move quickly to mitigate the problem causing the compromise and require all users to change the password.

Finally, there must be a consensus to protect users from creating bad passwords and generating difficult password creation patterns. Raise awareness and allow people to recognize that their passwords are insecure so that they can choose strong and secure passwords for both work and personal access.

The senhasegura Solution

 Passwords are one of the oldest security mechanisms in the computing world and are also one of the main attack vectors by cybercriminals. In this way, we can avoid cyberattacks that can cause considerable damage not only to people but also to companies.

A more secure approach to the use of passwords is one where they can only be used once. Single-use passwords protect users from theft of credentials. Unlike static ones, which are not changed, using passwords only once makes systems resilient to attacks.

Once inserted in senhasegura, the passwords are managed by the solution. This means that, at any time, the solution can make a change in the password. These changes can occur in the following ways:

• Determined by the company’s password policies (automatic). Based on the company’s password policies, registered in the system, the solution automatically and periodically changes the keys, facilitating the work of its information security team.

• Determined by password exposure (automatic). When a user is allowed to see a password held by the solution, they can use it for a specified period in the system. When this time is over, the system will immediately change the password, so that the credential custody returns to storage.

• Requested by an admin user. A user with administrator rights in the system may at any time schedule a password change for some or all devices registered in the solution.

Request a demo now and discover the benefits of senhasegura for your business.

Hiring insurance is nothing more than a risk management strategy. In this case, the organization transfers the responsibility in the event of an unexpected event to a third party (in this case, the insurance company). And with the increase in security incidents and data breaches, insurance companies have developed a new product to help organizations reduce the risk of cyberattacks: cyber insurance.

In this case, by hiring cyber-attack insurance, the organization transfers the obligations related to the costs they would have to pay in the event of a security incident to the insurance company. Typically, these costs are associated with recovering stolen data, paying ransomware ransoms, property damage, and even image recovery. But what factors influence the growing demand of companies for cyber insurance?

The first of these is the increase in connected devices. With the development of technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things, and Industry 4.0, the number of devices connected to the infrastructure has skyrocketed. According to Zurich Insurance, the number of connected devices in 2020 has surpassed 50 billion, an increase of 19% compared to 2019. And this number is expected to grow even more in the next few years.

Moreover, the amount of data generated by these devices has increased exponentially. According to Ace Group, the volume of online data doubles every two years. And in times when data is the new oil, protecting an organization’s data (in addition to the personal data of employees, partners, and suppliers) is not about just complying with security policies and personal data protection laws such as LGPD, GDPR, CCPA, and the Texas Privacy Act, it is about ensuring business continuity.

Another factor that influences the increase of cyber risks and contributes to an increase in the demand for cyber insurance is the migration to remote work, driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. Bring Your Own Device, shadow IT, and the use of insecure networks considerably increase the attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors.

With this larger attack surface, the number of security incidents has also increased. A Checkpoint study has shown that the year 2021 broke records in terms of the number of cyberattacks. According to the study, there was a 50% increase in cyberattacks globally per week compared to 2020.

The costs of these cyber-attacks were also higher for organizations: according to the IBM Data Breach Investigation Report 2021, the cost of a data breach for organizations was $ 4.24 million, a 10% increase compared to 2019. In addition, the costs associated with cybercrime are estimated to have reached $ 6 trillion in 2021.

By hiring cyber insurance, organizations can ensure the costs of a cyberattack are covered by the insurance company, including operational losses and incident recovery costs. Moreover, insurance companies also offer full legal and security incident investigation support. In this way, the company can ensure that it is prepared if it falls victim to cyber attackers and that all efforts are made to recover its infrastructure affected by the security incident.

Texas is one of the richest states in the USA and has been receiving a large amount of tech companies in recent years: Oracle, Cloudflare, and Tesla changed cities like Palo Alto and San Francisco for Austin and Houston. So now you may be wondering: why did they change? And what is the relationship between cybersecurity and the Texan economy? Read more ahead in this article:

• Why Is Texas Turning Into the New Silicon Valley?

The name “Silicon Hills” initially referred to the mountainous terrain on the West side of Austin, but now it makes a clear parallel to Silicon Valley. Austin has always housed many companies focused on technology, but in recent years, the growth has been exponential, and giants such as Google and Amazon have migrated to the region, building large facilities.

One of the main reasons is “economic freedom”, a term defended by the current state governor, Greg Abbott. Local politicians aim to attract more and more new investors to the state. In addition to not having a state income tax, Texas prioritizes job creation, providing social and income equality. Therefore, it imposes fewer regulations on local companies, which ends up facilitating and cheapening operations in the region.

Besides all these advantages, the state promises to be fun and politically progressive, with a large academic center, and prestigious universities spread throughout its territory. Therefore, companies moving to the region can rely on a highly skilled and diverse workforce.

• What are the segments that play a critical role in Texas economy (besides technology) and how they relate to cybersecurity?

Texas’ economy plays a major role in the U.S. economy. The state used to have an economy focused on agriculture, more precisely on cotton crops and livestock, but its economy has diversified. Today, oil and aerospace industries also play a major role.

Besides the technology industry field, Texas is also home to one of the largest natural energy reserves in the United States and to organizations such as NASA and SpaceX, which drive the aerospace market. One of the consequences of this phenomenon is that the region has become one of the richest in the country, offering life quality at a low cost, which ends up attracting the attention not only from people and companies but also from hacckers that aims to attack their critical infrastructures.

Critical infrastructure is related to the assets, systems, facilities, networks, and all other elements that maintain the national security, economic vitality, and public health of a region. There are numerous sectors considered critical that have some type of dependence on technology for their operation, management, or automation. 

It is also quite important to keep critical infrastructures secure. The sectors focused on the economy of a region are also classified as critical infrastructures. Which is why there is a need to invest in cybersecurity, as well as to develop laws and regulations that help protect data and services.

• Are there any data protection acts in Texas?

Unlike other countries, the United States does not have a General Data Protection Law in a the federal level. But there are recent regulations, more localized ones, which deal with specific areas, regulating the use of certain types of data or some industries, such as health, finance, and telecommunications.

The laws at the state level are intended to cover points that federal laws do not. In this way, each state has the freedom to enact its own rules regarding data and information protection.

With this information, here we will present a brief overview of data and information protection laws in the state of Texas.

1 – Texas Privacy Act (2019):

The Texas Privacy Act made some changes to previous data breach notification laws, which include the following:

• Companies must provide notice of data breaches that affected individuals within 60 days from the event.
• Companies experiencing a data breach that affects 250 or more people must notify the Texas Attorney General’s office.
• The Privacy Protection Advisory Council was created to advise on possible changes to existing privacy laws.

2 – Texas Cybercrime Act:

The cybercrime law has created new criminal offenses for denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, ransomware facilities, and intentional data alteration.

3 – Student Privacy Act:

This act forbids the sale of student personal data, creating ads for students based on data shared by educational institutions or suppliers, and broadly forbids the disclosure of student data.

4 – Medical Privacy Act:

This act provides privacy protection complementary to the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It requires employee training, providing electronic health records at the patient’s request, notification of a breach, and patient authorization for disclosure of health-related information.

5 – Biometric Privacy Law:

The Biometric Privacy Law forbids the capture, sale, or scanning of iris, fingerprint, or facial geometry without the consent of the person. 

6 – Identity Theft Law:

It forbids to identity theft, that is, the use of a person’s identifying information to obtain goods, services, and personal credit. The Identity Theft Law also requires companies to adopt procedures to protect customer data from illegal uses.

The laws presented are always undergoing modifications to maintain the privacy and security of information and personal data, as well as services and companies present within the territory.

In recent years, the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies such as automation, 3D printers, robotics, and IoT is gaining a lot of momentum across manufacturers. These technologies that interface with the production lifecycle enable businesses to improve productivity and competitiveness through cost control and planning.

However, the competitive advantage achieved by the deployment of Industry 4.0 technologies comes with a risk of vulnerability to cyber threats to a company. 

Operations and information security executives must effectively anticipate and address cyber risks, as well as proactively integrate cybersecurity into operations in accordance with senior management business plans. 

Thus, cybersecurity becomes part of mission-critical tasks, as well as business continuity and recovery for operation and information security executives. 

This involves protecting IT assets in a coordinated manner. The key to the success of secure and resilient operations is awareness of intentional or unintentional internal and external vulnerabilities and threats.

With this in mind, we provide a guide that covers the most relevant aspects of Industry 4.0 applied to the context of technology and cybersecurity. Start the text by understanding more about the origin of Industry 4.0.

What Is Industry 4.0?

The term Industry 4.0 is used to mean the beginning of the fourth industrial revolution – the previous three being mechanical production, mass production, and then the digital revolution.

As described in the book The Fourth Industrial Revolution by Professor Klaus Schwab, Industry 4.0 encompasses “new technologies that combine the physical, digital, and biological worlds, impacting all disciplines, economies, and industries. These technologies have great potential to continue connecting billions of people to the web and dramatically improve the efficiency of businesses and organizations.”

In its application and universal understanding of Industry 4.0, this term is more directly related to the world of manufacturing, and we can even call it Manufacturing 4.0. This industry is growing and transforming like never before. 

In its application to manufacturing, Industry 4.0 is considered “the growth of automation and Internet of Things (IoT)-powered data technologies, the cloud, advanced computers, robotics, and people.” The seamless integration of software, equipment, and people increases the speed, reliability, and flow of information between all systems of a manufacturer.

What Are the Main Characteristics of Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 is often summarized into six main features, essentially serving as part of the vision of Industry 4.0 and making the guidelines clearer for companies wishing to understand, identify, and implement Industry 4.0 projects.

What sets this latest industrial revolution apart is the fusion of technologies to save time, enable certain decisions, and reduce errors. This allows digital manufacturing to grow rapidly and widely. 

The technologies we are talking about have similar characteristics, as we will see below.

Interoperability

A simple example is that each web browser can work with all web pages because both use open standards to allow access for everyone. They work separately but depend on each other for success. For manufacturers, physical, human, and computer systems can communicate with each other.

Virtualization

Machines that use virtualization are more protected against malware and can be used to check for updates, run software tests, and test different configurations before presenting the final result. You can create a virtual copy of the smart factory for training simulation and testing without affecting the shop floor.

Decentralization

In Industry 4.0, decentralization means that machines do not rely on human interference to work. Physical systems have sensors connected to a network, capable of making automated decisions based on performance data.

Real-time Capacity

Technology has advanced so much that sensors feed data and algorithms instantly. These real-time data and analytics provide immediate results for faster problem responses and even predictive maintenance.

Service Orientation

The real-time capability made possible by big data and the free flow of information to interoperable systems enable companies to better meet customer needs. This allows companies to adapt to customers’ ever-changing needs and expectations as they occur, providing personalized service.

Modularity

It allows any production line activity to be changed immediately. With the connection and disconnection of different modules, companies can produce unique products in sequence without reconfiguring the entire assembly line.

How Did Industry 4.0 Emerge?

Before we delve into the technologies and challenges of Industry 4.0, we must understand how manufacturing and technology evolved, where they began, and how they began. 

There are four distinct periods when rapid technological developments lead to drastic demographic changes and ultimately helped shape our current world.

Industry 1.0

Industry 1.0 is synonymous with Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution is commonly referred to as a turning point in human history. Once industrialization began to occur, humanity changed forever.

The Industrial Revolution began somewhere between the middle of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. It began in Britain, spreading rapidly to Europe, the United States, and then the rest of the world. The innovative technology that emerged during this period included the steam engine, cotton, and locomotive engine.

Until then, most people worked in agriculture. They lived in small communities or farms. However, once the Industrial Revolution began, most of the work began to shift to factory work. Similarly, there was a massive increase in urbanization, as most jobs in the factories were in the cities.

Industry 2.0

In the early 20th century, the world entered its second Industrial Revolution. With the advent of electricity in the 1800s and the rise of steel production, manufacturing and technology accelerated to a level never seen before.

Electricity allowed manufacturers to increase their efficiency and make their manufacturing machines more mobile. Mass production has become commonplace. Industrial tycoon Henry Ford popularized the assembly line to increase overall productivity and lower prices.

Industry 3.0

After the destruction caused by World War II, a third technological revolution slowly began to emerge as nations began to recover. It was at this point in history that much of our modern technology began to take shape.

During the third Industrial Revolution, manufacturers started producing electronics, such as semiconductors, which eventually led to the modern computer, smartphone, and others. Likewise, mass telecommunications began to emerge.

Over the years, manufacturers have focused less on mechanical machines and more on digital technology and automation. Not to mention that advances in telecommunications have enabled rapid and effective communication, which has enabled globalization.

Industry 4.0

In the last decade, we have entered a new era of technology. Known as Industry 4.0, it adds to the transformation of digital technology that we experienced for the first time in Industry 3.0. However, this time, there is a greater focus on interconnectivity between IoT devices, introducing cyber-physical data and real-time data and analysis interpretation.

Industry 4.0 provides a much more interconnected, comprehensive, and holistic procedure for manufacturing. It can seamlessly connect digital and physical systems.

Similarly, advances in telecommunications enable better communication between company departments, third-party suppliers, and key stakeholders.

Industry 4.0 empowers business owners, managers, and team members to make better, more informed decisions and have greater control in their respective departments or functions. These professionals can leverage these insights to improve business processes, increase productivity, and sustain long-term growth.

What Are the Pillar Technologies of Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0, as part of a broader concept called digital transformation, covers manufacturing from planning to delivery, with solutions for deep analysis, shop floor data sensors, smart warehouses, simulated changes, and product and asset tracking.

For manufacturers, Industry 4.0 technologies help bridge the gap between what were once isolated processes for a more holistic and visible view across the organization, with many actionable insights.

Below are the main digital transformation technologies brought by Industry 4.0.

Cognitive Computing

Cognitive technologies were not possible before the big data era. Cognitive systems need data to analyze – lots and lots of data. For most manufacturers, having enough data is no longer a problem. 

In fact, most manufacturers have access to more data than they can analyze using older methods and probably more data than they actually need. 

Cognitive manufacturing fully utilizes data present in equipment, systems, and processes to gain actionable insights across the value chain through different processes, from design to manufacturing and support activities. 

Built on the foundations of IoT and employing analysis combined with cognitive technology, Industry 4.0 or cognitive manufacturing drives its key productivity improvements in manufacturing environment reliability, quality, and efficiency.

Cloud Computing

With the advent of IoT and Industry 4.0, the reality is that data is being generated at an impressive speed and in large volumes, making manual handling impossible. This creates the need for an infrastructure that can store and manage this data more efficiently.

Cloud computing provides a platform for users to store and process large amounts of data on remote servers. It allows organizations to use computer resources without having to develop an on-premises computing infrastructure.

The ability of cloud computing to provide scalable computing resources and storage space enables companies to capture and apply business intelligence through the use of big data analytics, helping them consolidate and optimize manufacturing and business operations.

Mobile Technologies

Back office and manufacturing operation managers need complete visibility into every aspect of the manufacturing process, from supply chain logistics to enterprise asset management (EAM) and customer order fulfillment. 

Transparency leads to simpler operations and dramatic productivity growth as problems are perceived and solved more quickly. 

Mobile technologies help factory managers achieve this level of visibility by allowing them to easily switch between mobile and desktop tasks. This is an achievable vision today if manufacturing operations leaders carefully observe their workflows and strategically invest in innovative mobile applications.

Cybersecurity

You cannot have multiple technologies involved at every level of your business without some kind of protection to keep cybercriminals and other malicious agents out of your systems. 

Cybersecurity technology is what protects your digital systems from internal and external attack vectors. Modern cybersecurity involves technology such as blockchain or artificial intelligence and can protect new technologies such as industrial IoT devices.

With digitized and intelligent systems, manufacturers without appropriate cybersecurity are exposed to the threat of intellectual property theft, cybercriminal-driven manufacturing equipment to create faulty products, ransomware, identity theft, and more. 

However, manufacturers can mitigate security threats by creating a plan if they experience a breach, as well as enabling cyber protection measures that protect their data and equipment, including their IoT systems.

M2M – Machine to Machine

The machine-to-machine concept represents any technology that allows two devices to exchange information with each other, for example, to communicate and send data. The communication that occurs between the machines or devices is autonomous, and there is no need for human intervention for this data exchange to occur.

M2M connectivity is related to the Internet of Things (IoT). Both are part of the same concept and complement each other. Thanks to IoT, an interconnected machine or device system can be connected wirelessly and automatically exchange and analyze data in the cloud. In short, IoT is enabled by integrating many M2M devices and using cloud web platforms to process all this data.

3D Printing

3D printers are a vital part of Industry 4.0. While 3D printers came to market in the 1980s, commercially viable 3D printing was only possible in the last decade, thanks to the pioneering efforts of companies such as Stratasys and others. 

3D printing technology today is at a stage where companies are beginning to realize significant and tangible new value for themselves and their customers who use it. 

Leading companies and consultants around the world are making significant investments in 3D printing knowledge and capabilities so they can advise and join their customers on the Industry 4.0 wave and revolutionize supply chains, product portfolios, and business models in the process. 

Robotics

Although robotics has been used in manufacturing for decades, Industry 4.0 has given new life to this technology.

With recent advances in technology, a new generation of robotics is emerging, capable of performing difficult and delicate tasks. Powered by cutting-edge software and sensors, they can recognize, analyze, and act on the information they receive from the environment and even collaborate and learn from humans.

One area of robotics that gains significant strength is collaborative robots (“cobots”), designed to work safely around people, freeing workers from repetitive and dangerous tasks.

Big Data

Big Data refers to the large and complex datasets generated by IoT devices. This data comes from a wide variety of enterprise and cloud applications, websites, computers, sensors, cameras, and more, all in different formats and protocols.

In the manufacturing industry, there are many types of data to consider, including data from production equipment equipped with sensors and databases of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) systems.

But how can manufacturers convert the collected data into actionable business insights and tangible benefits? With the analysis of this data. When it comes to data, the use of data analytics is essential to convert data into information that can provide actionable insights.

Ultimately, by collecting previously isolated data sets and analyzing them, companies can now find new ways to optimize processes that have the greatest effect on income.

Internet of Things

Simply put, IoT refers to a network of physical devices that are digitally interconnected, facilitating communication and data exchange over the Internet. These smart devices can be anything from smartphones and appliances to cars and even buildings.

Industrial IoT is a subset of the Internet of Things, where multiple sensors, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, software, and electronics are integrated into industrial machines and systems to collect real-time data about their condition and performance.

IoT has many use cases, with asset management and tracking being one of the main applications of the technology today. For example, IoT can be used to prevent excess or lack in inventories.

What Are the Main Challenges Brought by Industry 4.0?

Although some organizations have consistent and holistic strategies toward Industry 4.0, most do not. The lack of strategy proves to be one of the greatest challenges, as it happens in many business areas.

There is a large gap between companies that have a long-term strategy and the others. The truth is that most organizations do not have an Industry 4.0 strategy and also suffer from the short strategic term. 

Organizations, in general, are focusing too much on the short term for changes in demands, as well as financial and competitive reasons. In any case, under Industry 4.0, it is clear that initiatives will not be sufficient unless they are part of a strategic journey. 

Moreover, we identified other obstacles and challenges brought by Industry 4.0 to companies.

• Defining a strategy (for Industry 4.0) is the number one challenge.
• Rethinking the organization and processes to maximize results.
• Real understanding of the business case.
• Conducting success tests.
• Making the market realize that action is needed.
• Management of changes, so often forgotten.
• Company culture.
• Real integration of departments.
• Keeping talented professionals.

All of these are challenges that we have seen in so many other areas and there are two more we want to add:

• Excellence in information management, as it is actionable intelligence, connected information, and process excellence in a context of relevance, innovation, and timely availability for any business, employee, and customer objective.
• Cybersecurity and privacy. The increasing number of attacks on the IoT is a fact as technology and operations converge. In addition, one of the main reasons that hinder IoT initiatives is security concerns, and IoT is, as previously seen, a key component of Industry 4.0.

In addition to these challenges, there are other practical, technological, and ecosystem-related ones:

• The challenges of IT and OT integration.
• Data compliance regulations.
• Managing risk and cost reduction in uncertain times.
• Dealing with the complexity of the connected supply chain.
• A better understanding of IT and OT technologies and, more importantly, how they can be leveraged.
• Competition and the fact that Industry 4.0 champions quickly obtain a competitive benefit.

How Can These Risks be Circumvented?

It is an honest question that many entrepreneurs and managers ask. Indeed, Industry 4.0 may not be ideal for some companies. However, to better understand whether Industry 4.0 technology would be a great opportunity to add to your current business model, consider the following:

• Do you work in a competitive industry with many dominant competitors in technology?
• Do you have difficulty recruiting quality candidates to fill important positions in your company?
• Are you trying to increase profitability and efficiency across your organization?
• Do you need team members and managers to be regularly informed about up-to-date news regarding the company, production, schedules, and others?
• Are you looking for more integrated business solutions that can encompass multiple departments, such as finances, accounting, customer support, supply chain, manufacturing, and more?
• Do you want to improve product quality?
• Do you need to digitize your current business processes?
• Do you need to improve customer satisfaction and experience?
• Do you need technology that can provide fast, accurate insights to help you make better decisions for the future of your business?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, Industry 4.0 can be an incredibly beneficial investment for your business and its processes. 

However, if you are still unsure, read on to learn more about how companies use Industry 4.0 technology, as well as its benefits, use cases, and more.

How to Adapt Your Business to Industry 4.0?

It is important to note that Industry 4.0 is not just about technologies. It also analyzes the impact and role of society and employees.

For example, the collaboration between man and machine such as collaborative robots or cobots, new skill sets required of factory workers amid all these changes, and, inevitably, job losses due to continued automation as mentioned and how to face this great challenge.

Therefore, you need to have a long-term strategy to deal with the challenges as they arise. Below are the main pillars you need to structure to follow with Industry 4.0.

Business

The first step is a clear articulation of the desired future state of the company, which is linked to the strategy and objectives of the business and not to the technology with the most buzz. The selection of use cases for pilots is based on a favorable business case, to be refined as pilots are implemented.

Outlining a clear business case becomes more complicated when it expands beyond the four walls of the plant, but that is even more important. For example, supply chain integration generates savings by considering hidden costs that are often not explicitly accounted for. 

Understanding these issues helps organizations formulate an assertive business case that will convince suppliers to embark on an integration journey.

Technology

Many companies will want to evaluate their current IT and OT systems, updating them to provide the power that digital use and analytics cases rely primarily on to support the Internet of Things. 

A scalable, obsolescence-resistant IT structure is essential. Similarly, upgrades of vendors’ IT/OT systems may be required for horizontal end-to-end data integration.

To update the IT/OT technology structure and implement multiple use cases, companies can leverage external technology providers by creating an ecosystem of partners that can help them execute the digital transformation. 

Partnership models can vary between outsourcing, acquisitions, and strategic alliances, with successful ecosystems integrating a mix of startups and established service and technology providers.

Process & People Organization

Few digital transformations can succeed without focusing on people. Four factors provide crucial support.

• Governance. A digital transformation without a clear owner may not be feasible. A cross-functional team and governance structures help ensure rapid execution.
• Commitment of senior management. Transformations are more likely to happen when led by key leaders, with a compelling history of change to help mobilize the organization. To prevent momentum from slowing down, leaders can celebrate victories as well as failures that help the company learn to fail and learn quickly.
• Acquisition of digital capacity. Skill gaps can be addressed by hiring when needed, as well as training existing employees to fulfill even more advanced digital functions such as analytics translator, data engineer, data scientist, or IoT architect.
• New ways of working. Implementing agile work methodologies empowers teams with the tools, processes, and best practices to achieve success in a digital world.

Why is Cybersecurity Important for the Evolution of Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 also has a strong focus on protection. This not only means data security and communication networks, data protection, but also the security and protection of workers, industrial assets, critical infrastructures, and physical safety. 

As industrial assets and critical infrastructure (from critical energy buildings to power grids and more) connect and attacks increase in traditionally isolated industrial environments, the stakes and dangers of vulnerabilities and attacks are enormous in Industry 4.0, which requires a final solution. 

As attacks increase and the consequences may be high, it is also recommended not only to focus on cybersecurity but to combine it with risk management, business continuity, and other things in what is also known as cyber resilience, and this becomes essential as we continue to transform. 

Due to the various facets that security is necessary for the preservation and evolution of Industry 4.0, we will detail below the main technological risks associated with cybersecurity.

Interoperability of Industry 4.0 Devices, Platforms, and Structures

With the introduction and integration of Industry 4.0 devices, platforms, and structures into existing systems, the question of interoperability arises. In industrial environments, protecting the interconnectivity between multiple devices is often a challenge, especially when considering devices that have been unsupported for a long time. 

Therefore, it is essential to promote secure solutions to ensure the continuous integration of Industry 4.0 devices with legacy systems and with each other. For example, gateways to ensure transparent communication in the case of different network protocols or others.

In addition, the lack of interoperability is related to dedicated and proprietary protocols that are in use by Industry 4.0 devices. In the case of devices and platforms from different suppliers being used, interoperability cannot always be ensured. 

Ensuring interoperability between devices/platforms is not only about the perfect operation but also about security. Therefore, it is essential to address the problem of proprietary protocols that are not always secure and to adopt common frameworks to improve the functionality and security of Industry 4.0 solutions.

Technical Restrictions Preventing Security in Industry 4.0 and Intelligent Manufacturing

The difficulties in ensuring security in Industry 4.0 also result from the lack of technical capabilities of connected industrial devices and systems, especially considering integration with legacy infrastructures. 

Restrictions on embedded systems pose a major challenge, especially when it comes to low-cost ICSs (Industrial Control Systems) and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controller), as they face many problems with a direct impact on their security. 

The following limitations can be considered:

• Limited processing capabilities and the need to ensure a long operating time while maintaining an acceptable size and competitive price for the device considerably affect the implementation of comprehensive security features in the design phase.
• Little consideration for fundamental protection mechanisms when designing Industry 4.0 devices negatively influences their security. Patches and software updates are, in most cases, unfeasible solutions when it comes to low-cost devices, as they do not support such functionality.
• Few more advanced security measures, such as encryption or authentication, for example, decrease the level of protection of devices closest to the industrial process. A fairly common approach of only protecting the network is insufficient.

Finally, considering the gaps related to limited technical resources, it is worth mentioning the fact that dedicated cybersecurity tools for Industry 4.0 systems are generally very few or inefficient. 

Tools for network monitoring, automatic asset discovery and configuration,

and management of changes in the environment increase the level of security of these systems and their availability.

What Should You Ensure for Your Cybersecurity Strategy to Work with Industry 4.0?

All this new technology and data collection have given cybercriminals new attack surfaces. And cyberattacks are not a distant threat. Let’s remember the Colonial Pipeline attack, which suddenly impacted communities in the US. This incident is a painful reminder that cybercriminals are innovative and organized and your defense should be as well. 

There is no simple solution to protect the security of your organization. Modern manufacturers are combining layers of smart, high-tech security with a culture of workplace data security and employee training. 

While each situation is different, here are five things you can do to help better protect your data in an Industry 4.0 world. 

 

Make a Commitment to Cybersecurity

A cyberattack has potential catastrophic effects on worker safety, environmental exposure, and the financial impact of production disruption. If your organization is still using legacy systems, it means it has a security vulnerability. 

It is time to commit to a serious technology upgrade. Redoing the cybersecurity infrastructure allows for a deep defense: the ability to monitor and protect the most important data and then propagate to all minor vulnerabilities. 

This includes the ability to examine security at the system level and then monitor and allocate resources accordingly to make informed decisions in the real world. Keeping current software patches, version updates, and security improvements can be your organization’s best investment for the future.

Build an End-to-End Security Strategy

As manufacturers add new access points and new technologies, they increase cyber risk. 5G technology with built-in security is more secure than most legacy systems, but it is not enough on its own. 

The reality is that you cannot manage the security of each individual device. For example, many manufacturing devices complete firmware and application updates over USB.

Ask yourself: Are we really protecting our devices? Who can log in and access the devices? Are they using secure processes? If you are unsure of the answers, your organization may not be fully protected.

What is needed is a holistic approach to data security. The cloud provides security for the data it manages, but the company still needs to maintain its own end-to-end security controls regardless of whether you operate in a cloud or hybrid environment. 

A good practice is to create private networks within the larger ecosystem to isolate areas, allowing to divide the network flow into different parts. For example, mission-critical applications may have one flow and end-users another, so there is a limited impact in the event of a security breach. Whatever method you choose, your defense systems must be broad and deep.

Consider Your Entire Supply Chain

Manufacturers need to understand not only their own security procedures but also those of their suppliers, partners, and customers. As more activities become interconnected beyond the “four walls,” extended security becomes increasingly important. 

Meanwhile, your vendors and suppliers are evaluating you with the same questions, or they should be. Does this company have strong cybersecurity technology and procedures? Can we trust to do business with them?

Make sure you and your suppliers share a common vision and commitment to cybersecurity.

Plan For The Worse

Organizations must prepare for the worst day, a ransomware attack, DOS, data leak, or another serious attack. What could be the impact of such an attack? Who will decide whether operations should shut down production? If production is shut down, what will be the effects? 

Manufacturers must have a detailed plan before something happens to better prepare for these situations. This includes media training and preparation of who will communicate with the public and customers. Manufacturers should conduct regular training to deal with worst-day cyberattack scenarios. You do not want to figure out what to do the day it happens.

Start At the Top

As with all major initiatives, your workforce will not buy adequate security unless it starts at the top. The CEO and the board should preach security to the entire organization.

More than that, they must boost the necessary investments in resources and capital. Cybersecurity should be a top priority for IT and OT and for all members of the organization that handle information, that is, everyone in a modern company.

As infrastructure changes and evolves, manufacturers will have to continually adapt to the attacker and stay one step ahead. By taking appropriate action today, companies will be able to reap the benefits of Industry 4.0 while keeping risks to a minimum.

Bonus Tip: Ask These Key Questions to Consider in Your Cybersecurity Strategy

 

Are You Investing Enough in Cybersecurity?

While government agencies have begun to invest more in setting cybersecurity standards, there is concern they are not enough focused on the manufacturing industry and frameworks are not always relevant.

There is still a lot of research to be done to identify manufacturers’ specific needs, but investing in a variety of security services, including consulting, training, software, and hardware, can help your business mature faster.

Do You Have a Clear Response Strategy to Mitigate an Attack?

Without an adequate response strategy, there is a risk that it will take longer for the business to recover and this will intensify any damage caused, financial or otherwise.

Manufacturers must have an audit trail for compliance and cyberattack insurance to provide support in the event of a data breach and for mitigation purposes. There also needs to be a clear management plan to minimize the effects. It is believed that cyberattacks will only become more prevalent.

Can You Ignore the Risk?

Attacks can range from causing minor production disruptions to serious damage to machines. As we have seen how Merck allegedly lost about $310 million in a violation, it is obvious a similar attack could harm a smaller company.

PAM As a Pathway to Industry 4.0

An organization that seeks to implement security controls and mitigate the cyber risks associated with Industry 4.0 needs to address issues associated with Privileged Access Management, or PAM.

A PAM solution is one of the main ways to guarantee the protection of a company’s confidential information and that all activities are tracked and audited.

Privileged Access Management, also called Privileged Identity Management, enables organizations to protect their privileged credentials. In addition, PAM ensures the effectiveness of least privilege policies by reducing attack vectors and possible data leaks.

Gartner believes that a PAM solution helps organizations securely provide privileged access to critical assets and meet compliance requirements by managing and monitoring privileged access and accounts. 

Basically, a PAM solution works as a secure credential repository for devices installed in the environment. Based on the management of user privileges, one can allow users to access only the data required for them to perform their activities. Thus, the information security team can configure user access profiles, avoiding improper access to systems and data.

Learn About the senhasegura Solution

In order to avoid data theft and traceability of actions in networks, databases, servers, and devices, senhasegura works to ensure digital sovereignty for institutions in several areas.

The solution is recommended for companies in the following scenarios:

• Companies with more than 10 users.
• Companies that received points of attention in auditing.
• Companies that must comply with cybersecurity rules and regulations.
• Companies that want to implement the best security practices.
• Companies that have suffered a security incident.
• Companies that need to reduce operating costs.

senhasegura allows companies to implement the most strict and complex controls on access to privileged credentials in an automated and centralized manner, protecting the IT infrastructure from data breaches and potential compliance breaches.

It has custom reports and audit trails of all privileged activities and separates privileged users and controls access to the environment through a centralized policy structure.

In addition, senhasegura restricts and monitors privileged users by applying the deepest level of granular control, robust password protection, and multifactor authentication.

It is also ready to meet business and market compliance requirements such as LGPD, GDPR, PCI DSS, SOX, NIST, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and ISA 62443.

Did you like our article and would like to have more details? senhasegura strives to ensure the sovereignty of companies’ actions and privileged information. To do so, we work against data theft and through traceability of administrator actions on networks, servers, databases, and a multitude of devices through a PAM solution.

Request a demo now and discover the benefits of senhasegura for your business.