This article will look at how the Energy sector can alleviate those risks by using secure remote access. But first, let’s look at the current cybersecurity landscape in the Energy industry.
Energy Sector Cybersecurity Risks
Cyberattacks globally have grown by 38% in 2022, according to Check Point Research. However, that percentage is a larger one – 48% – when it comes to utility companies. These numbers show no signs of a decrease.
Data from the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) is just as concerning. The Energy sector was targeted in 2023 by more than 200 security incidents. Out of these, more than half have been in Europe.
Furthermore, being affected by a data breach doesn’t come cheap. According to an IBM report, the cost of a data breach for an Energy industry company was, on average, $4.78 million in 2023. That’s an increase on the $4.72 million it was in 2022.
Aside from the financial costs and data recovery efforts, there’s also the PR side of things to think of. A company seen as incapable of protecting customer data, for example, won’t look too good to potential customers and partners.
The Florida Water Treatment Facility Incident
An example of how things could go very wrong when remote access isn’t used carefully is the one at a Florida water treatment plant. While not an Energy situation, the situation is very similar to what happens when malicious actors attack a strategic facility.
In February 2021, it was believed that malicious actors infiltrated the computer systems of a water treatment facility in Oldsmar, Florida. They purportedly managed to manipulate the chemical levels in the water supply. It was thought to have happened because of the use of remote access software TeamViewer with unchanged, shared passwords and no firewall protection.
Apparently, while the software was no longer used actively, it was left installed. So, any disgruntled former employee could have accessed the systems, from anywhere in the world, and alter the entire town’s water supply. The FBI even issued a warning at the time, explaining the ways in which such software and outdated operating systems could become attack vectors.
The whole incident could have had tragic consequences but, luckily, no one was harmed on the occasion. The FBI investigation concluded that the same employee that reported it could have caused the issue (and fixed it promptly). The incident also prompted the facility to take a serious look at its security practices. The danger is very much still there, considering the recent White House warning regarding possible cyber attacks on US water supplies.
For all the reasons discussed above, Energy organizations should make sure they use secure remote access solutions.
Why Secure Remote Access Solutions Are Essential
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. A secure remote access solution is great for real-time monitoring. Not to mention using predictive maintenance to keep everything working great.
Some of the advantages of a secure remote access solution for the Energy industry are:
- Centralized Control: having the ability to control who has access to what devices.
- Enhanced Monitoring: RealVNC Connect has an Audit feature, allowing you to have logs of all remote connections.
- Data Protection: A secure remote access solution needs to be able to encrypt your data, so only you can have access to it.
RealVNC Connect - The Secure Remote Access Solution for the Energy Industry
Certified Security Stance
RealVNC Connect is a remote access solution built with security in mind. It gives your Energy organization the security it needs, while offering the required controls and privacy.
There’s something very important to look at before choosing a remote access solution. Namely, if it only claims to be secure, or it can actually prove it.
RealVNC Connect’s commitment to data security is confirmed by an ISO27001 certification. The company’s strong security stance is confirmed by regular white box security audits and penetration tests. Make sure that any product you look at can actually prove its security stance.
The solution is designed to meet and assist with a broad range of industry and government standards and regulations.
Robust Security Features
RealVNC builds its products by putting security first. Here are some of the security features that make RealVNC Connect the perfect choice for your Energy organisation:
- Full End-to-End Encryption: full end-to-end encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy is built into RealVNC’s protocol. Session data is impossible to decrypt, even by RealVNC, now or in the future.
- Multifactor Authentication: accounts are secured using email-based 2FA by default. This ensures that your account is secure even if someone gets their hands on your account credentials (email address and password).
- Remote Session Authentication by Default: all remote sessions must be authenticated using local system (or domain) credentials by default. This is independent of RealVNC account authentication.
- Single Sign-on: You can use your existing identity provider for authentication, making it easier for user to log on, while maintaining security.
- Granular Permissions: specific access permissions can be granted to certain users.
- Gatekeeping Access: the software can be configured to prompt the end user to approve or reject the connection.
These are just some of the security features that make RealVNC Connect ideal for your Energy business. You can find out more about RealVNC’s security features here.
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If you want to see for yourself what RealVNC Connect can do for you, you don’t have to take our word for it. Get a free trial now!