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ISA White Paper will help SMEs to tackle cyber-security

27 July, 2017

At the request of the US Department of Homeland Security, ISA (the International Society of Automation), has produced a White Paper intended to help SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises) to recognise their vulnerability to industrial cyber-attacks and to forge effective cyber-security plans based on established standards and practices.

SMEs are at risk from a variety of threats, including amateur and professional hackers, environmental activists, disgruntled employees or contractors, and even nation-states or terrorists. In addition, many cyber-security incidents are a result of accidents or unintentional actions. A company does not have to be a specific target to be affected.

The 20-page White Paper, Industrial Cybersecurity for Small and Medium Sized Businesses: A Practical Guide, provides an overview of industrial cyber-security, covering topics including risk assessment, protection, detection, response, recovery and training.

“Effective cyber-security management is essential for all organisations, regardless of size,” says ISA’s senior business development manager, Bill Joss. “However, most medium- and smaller-sized companies that manage industrial processes and employ some level of automation are unaware of the cyber-risks they face, and are not adequately prepared to implement the proven cyber-security standards and practices that are available to them.”

“SMEs need to fully understand their cybersecurity risk and take action to reduce this risk, just as they do with other business risks,” he adds. “The absence of previous incidents, or the belief that the organisation is not a likely target, is not sufficient justification for ignoring this issue.”

The freely downloadable White Paper was co-written by two ISA cyber-security experts, Steve Mustard and Eric Cosman.




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