A CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipeline is an essential tool in modern software development, which allows you to automate and optimize the entire development lifecycle, from code integration to its deployment in production. The article aims to explain security in CI/CD pipelines, motivating readers to adopt automated practices that not only optimize software development, but also minimize the associated risks. Keep in mind that automation carries certain risks if not handled safely, as it can increase the attack surface for cybercriminals. It underscores the importance of implementing security controls at every stage of the pipeline, urging developers to take initiative-taking steps to protect their code, their environments, and ultimately, their final products.
In the era of interconnection and digitization, industrial control systems (ICS) are increasingly exposed to cyber threats. These systems are vital for energy production, manufacturing and critical infrastructure management, and their protection has become an essential priority.
Risk analysis is fundamental in this context, as it allows identifying, assessing and prioritizing the risks that can affect ICS. This process, ranges from technical vulnerabilities to emerging threats, and is crucial for developing effective mitigation and protection strategies.
In this article, the challenges and solutions related to risk analysis in ICS will be explored, as well as the importance of the IEC 62443-3-2 standard in this critical process.
The digital twins are virtual recreations of real-world objects or processes. This innovative idea, proposed by Dr. Michael Grieves, has become increasingly relevant in various industrial sectors thanks to the advancement of technologies such as 3D modelling, the Internet of Things (IoT), the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things), machine learning and big data. Its application makes it possible to simulate and analyse physical processes efficiently, thus contributing to the digital transformation of industry, also known as Industry 4.0.
The fundamental purpose of digital twins is to facilitate the understanding of how elements operate in the physical world. For example, in manufacturing, it is possible to create a digital twin of a factory and through simulations explore different scenarios: what would happen if a machine were modified, how would it impact production, and what would happen if a machine were changed? The digital twin provides answers before real changes are made to the physical environment, speeding up decision-making and optimising processes.
The agri-food sector is one of the most critical sectors today because it is one of the most important sectors for the country's economy, as it produces food.
This sector, like many others, is in continuous evolution. An example of this is the automation and digitalization of the many processes that are carried out. These new technologies bring many advantages, such as more efficient processes, less water consumption, detection of possible risks, etc. These great advantages also bring with them some problems, such as increased exposure to cyber-attacks.
Therefore, this article provides some basic knowledge to make the industry aware of the importance of implementing cybersecurity in their technologies.
UMAS (Unified Messaging Application Services) is a Schneider Electric (SE) proprietary protocol used to configure and monitor Schneider Electric programmable logic controllers (PLCs). While it is true that the protocol is related to this manufacturer, the use of the protocol is quite widespread in different sectors, especially the energy sector, as is obvious.
The article will focus on the technical breakdown of the protocol and the use of the protocol. The article will also show weaknesses, strengths and some technical vulnerabilities detected in this protocol.
There are currently many standards and regulations in the industrial sector. A wide variety of them allow industrial organizations to check their level of maturity, such as IEC 62443, or to improve the security level of the organization through the application of a series of guidelines, good practices or guides, as in the case of the NIST Framework.
Given the growth of the industrial sector, and the increase in capabilities, both in production and connectivity, thanks to the consolidation of Industry 4.0 and the emergence of Industry 5.0, industrial environments are in the focus, not only of technological improvements, but also of cyber-attacks.
The application and implementation of the IEC 62443 family, in combination with the NIST Framework, will enable organizations to reduce, mitigate and control the possibility of suffering a cyber-attack by implementing the controls and best practices defined in both standards.
The UN R155 and UN R156 regulations are of vital importance for vehicle cybersecurity. From July 2022, all car manufacturers that want to be type-approved must comply with both regulations, but from July 2024 this requirement will be extended to all new vehicles sold in the European Union, regardless of when the manufacturer obtained type-approval. One of the most important aspects of compliance with both regulations is the completion of a cybersecurity risk assessment of the vehicle, including all integrated components of the vehicle's supply chain. On the other hand, it also specifies how to incorporate cybersecurity from design, how to detect and respond to incidents, how to securely update vehicle software, etc.
The M-Bus protocol is a common protocol in the industry in general, it’s daily use can be related to devices for measurements of electricity, gas, water, heating, etc. This protocol has a wireless variant called Wireless M-Bus and works through a hierarchical master/slave system, standardized according to EN13757.
Space is an increasingly important element in the critical infrastructures of all countries. The possibility of losing or degrading space services can significantly affect both national security and all customers who have contracted services involving the use of satellites or any other space devices, resulting in major economic and security losses.
To protect it, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a cyber security framework for the commercial ground segment of the space sector, providing a means for stakeholders to assess their cyber security posture in terms of identification, protection, detection, response and recovery operations, thereby evaluating the level of risk to the satellite ground segment structure.
