Industrial firms urged to jump on digital transformation train

Honeywell opens new cyber security centre to ward off threats; calls for an embracing of Industrial Internet of Things

Industrial organisations must be a part of digital transformation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and also strive improve their cyber-security defences to ward off threats, a top Honeywell official said.

“The power of connected [IIOT] is real and promises tremendous productivity and gains. [Critical to all that] is industrial cyber security that is required as the foundation and the core to make it safe and securely,” Jeff Zindel, vice-president and general manager for Honeywell industrial cybersecurity, said after opening the region’s first industrial cybersecurity centre in Dubai.

He said the fundamentals are not in place but there is a “tremendous opportunity” for industrial companies to move forward and secure their assets and operations.

There is a global shortage of cybersecurity expertise and when it comes to the industrial segment, it is much higher.

“That is why we have invested millions into the industrial cyber security centre for the Middle East customers,” he said.

Regular operation

“We view that is absolutely imperative for companies to address cybersecurity as a programme and it needs to become an ongoing regular part of their operations and a true enabler of business success. So, companies need to address it in a holistic manner, looking at people, process and technology,” he said.

Honeywell has one industrial security centre in Atlanta at Georgia and is building another facility in Singapore.

The centre has a safe offprocess environment to test and demonstrate process control network vulnerabilities and threats, train customers through real-time attack simulations and provide client consultations.

According to research firm MarketsandMarkets, the Middle East cyber security market size is expected to grow from $11.38 billion (Dh41.79 billion) in 2017 to $22.14 billion by 2022.

Workforce training

“As threats to industrial control environments become more sophisticated, it will be crucial to train the workforce of the industry for effective cybersecurity implementation,” Safdar Akhtar, business development director of Industrial Cyber Security for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Honeywell Process Solutions, said.

“We are living in a virtual and connected world where internet of things are shaping very fast.”

He said that cybersecurity is a very rich subject and added that there is a big difference between IT and operational technology (OT) security.