{"id":42227,"date":"2024-07-31T15:30:17","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T15:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realvnc.com\/en\/?post_type=blog&p=42227"},"modified":"2024-08-05T14:56:47","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T14:56:47","slug":"remote-access-security-energy","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.realvnc.com\/en\/blog\/remote-access-security-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Ensuring Remote Access Security in the Energy Sector"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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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.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Energy Sector Cybersecurity Risks<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Cyberattacks globally have grown by 38% in 2022, according to Check Point Research<\/a>. However, that percentage is a larger one – 48% – when it comes to utility companies. These numbers show no signs of a decrease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Data from the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)<\/a> 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. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Furthermore, being affected by a data breach doesn\u2019t come cheap. According to an IBM report<\/a>, 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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\u2019t look too good to potential customers and partners.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Florida Water Treatment Facility Incident<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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An example of how things could go very wrong when remote access isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>

In February 2021, it was believed that malicious actors infiltrated the computer systems of <\/a>a water treatment facility in Oldsmar, Florida. They purportedly managed to manipulate the chemical levels in the water supply.\u00a0It was thought to have happened because of the use of remote access software TeamViewer with unchanged, shared passwords and no firewall protection. \u00a0<\/p>

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<\/a> at the time, explaining the ways in which such software and outdated operating systems could become attack vectors.\u00a0<\/p>

The whole incident could have had tragic consequences but, luckily, no one was harmed on the occasion. The FBI investigation concluded<\/a> 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<\/a> regarding possible cyber attacks on US water supplies. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>

For all the reasons discussed above, Energy organizations should make sure they use secure remote access solutions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Why Secure Remote Access Solutions Are Essential<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It’s not all doom and gloom, though. A secure remote access solution is great for real-time monitoring<\/a>. Not to mention using predictive maintenance<\/a> to keep everything working great. <\/p>\n

Some of the advantages of a secure remote access solution<\/a> for the Energy industry are:<\/p>\n