Technology

Manufacturing IT/OT Networks Are at Risk Due to Skills Gaps, Legacy Systems, and Advanced Cyber Threats, Says Info-Tech Research Group

Published

15 hours ago

September 26, 2024

Info-Tech Research Group’s latest industry blueprint is providing manufacturing CIOs with comprehensive strategies to effectively navigate the unprecedented cybersecurity challenges posed by complex IT/OT environments and legacy systems. The firm’s resource emphasizes the importance of securing specialized cybersecurity skills and offers actionable insights to safeguard critical assets while ensuring compliance with regional regulations.

TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – The IT and OT environments in manufacturing are facing significant cybersecurity challenges, from managing intricate networks of interconnected systems to defending against sophisticated cyberattacks. Global IT research and advisory firm, Info-Tech Research Group, cautions technology leaders that as these systems become increasingly more complex, the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches escalates, potentially disrupting operations and compromising sensitive information. The situation and the recommended response are explored in Info-Tech Research Group’s latest blueprint, Understand Modern Cybersecurity Solutions for Manufacturing IT & OT. The research-backed resource will equip CIOs in the manufacturing industry with advanced tools and strategic insights to bolster defenses, safeguard critical assets, and maintain a competitive edge in the increasingly digital industrial landscape.

“Technologies such as IoT, AI, machine learning, AR/VR/XR, big data analytics, and digital twins are revolutionizing manufacturing by enabling increased automation, connectivity, and efficiency,” says Shreyas Shukla, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. “However, a rapid advancement in technology, combined with the presence of legacy systems, has created a landscape fraught with cyber-vulnerabilities. Legacy systems, and most factories, were never designed for connectivity or cybersecurity in the first place.”

Info-Tech’s newly published resource highlights the critical need for the manufacturing industry to secure and retain personnel with specialized cybersecurity skills. Protecting data in compliance with regional laws demands constant vigilance and frequent updates to security protocols, making these skills indispensable. However, the high demand for cybersecurity expertise across industries poses a significant challenge for the manufacturing sector. The firm’s blueprint details the role of CIOs in leading proactive cybersecurity strategies and integrating advanced software solutions. These initiatives will enable manufacturing firms to safeguard their assets, strengthen their market position, and build trust with investors and customers through measurable security improvements.

“Recent incidents underscore the rising cybersecurity risks in manufacturing: a leading forklift and truck manufacturer suffered a crippling cyberattack, a major aerospace company became the target of a sophisticated cyber-espionage campaign, and a top automotive manufacturer faced a ransomware attack that halted production,” explains Shukla. “These three examples highlight a growing trend where the innovations driving progress are also introducing significant cybersecurity risks.”

The resource further explains how, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturing operations have evolved significantly, expanding the attack surface due to rapid digital transformation, hybrid work models, the connection of previously isolated machines, and the adoption of new technologies and partnerships. As a result, there is now an urgent need for solutions that protect both IT and OT environments.

In its Understand Modern Cybersecurity Solutions for Manufacturing IT & OT blueprint, Info-Tech outlines the significant potential of advanced cybersecurity solutions in safeguarding manufacturers from evolving threats. These solutions enhance security through the following key areas:

Asset Discovery and Management: Software solutions enable continuous identification and inventory of all connected devices to maintain an up-to-date asset register.Vulnerability Assessment: Automated tools regularly scan for vulnerabilities across IT and OT environments, prioritizing remediation efforts.Incident Detection and Response: AI-driven solutions quickly detect and respond to security incidents, minimizing operational disruptions.Network Segmentation: These tools prevent the lateral movement of threats between IT and OT systems.Identity and Access Management (IAM): IAM software controls and monitors access to sensitive data and systems to prevent unauthorized access.Anomaly Detection: Machine learning solutions can detect abnormal behavior patterns that may indicate a security threat.Compliance Management: Compliance software ensures adherence to industry regulations and standards, reducing the risk of penalties.Security Awareness Training: Training platforms provide regular sessions to educate employees on recognizing and preventing cyber threats.Supply Chain Security: Advanced solutions can help to secure the supply chain and protect against third-party risks through enhanced monitoring and management.

The firm’s research insights found in the comprehensive new resource will equip manufacturing CIOs and security leaders with essential strategies to integrate robust cybersecurity measures into smart factories. Info-Tech advises that CIOs play a pivotal role in driving these initiatives and will be key to safeguarding operations and enhancing competitive advantage in an era of exponential IT. The firm’s detailed blueprint, along with its risk assessment tool, will support manufacturing firms in bolstering their defenses and building trust with stakeholders.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Shreyas Shukla, an expert in the manufacturing sector, and access to the complete Understand Modern Cybersecurity Solutions for Manufacturing IT & OT blueprint, please contact pr@infotech.com.

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

Technology

Expo enhanced by China-ASEAN cooperation

Published

56 mins ago

September 27, 2024

BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A report from China Daily:

The 21st China-ASEAN Expo, which is taking place in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, aims to increase consensus, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and enhance China-ASEAN collaboration to an unparalleled level.

The expo, which commenced on Tuesday and will run until Saturday, is marked by several new initiatives. Notably, it provides a novel theme focusing on strategic emerging industries, spotlighting cutting-edge advancements and technological breakthroughs in such areas as digital technology, green low-carbon initiatives, new energy and smart connected vehicles.

Moreover, the expo introduces a high-tech product exhibition area tailored for ASEAN countries, a first-time feature that showcases technical progress made in healthcare, information technology, new energy and other key sectors. It aims to support high-tech ASEAN enterprises in expanding their market presence in China and beyond.

The 21st CAEXPO is to include an open day, offering businesses enhanced market visibility and granting the general public a firsthand experience of the concrete outcomes resulting from practical cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.

This year’s expo boasts an exhibition area spanning nearly 200,000 square meters and has attracted the participation of more than 3,000 companies, with Malaysia taking the spotlight as the “theme country”.

Malaysian government officials are set to participate in dialogues with Chinese enterprise CEOs, fostering better understanding of the country’s investment policies and aiding the exploration of overseas markets.

At the 21st CAEXPO, the United Arab Emirates has confirmed its participation as a “special partner country”, marking a historic moment as it becomes the first Gulf Cooperation Council member to attend.

The UAE has established a national pavilion to display its investment environment, key industries and cooperative projects, promoting direct dialogue and partnerships between enterprises.

Through extensive discussions, they will collaborate on trade, tourism, investment, finance, and technology, jointly develop new areas and partnership frameworks to strengthen the bilateral economic and trade ties.

The expo also features a dedicated China-ASEAN cultural exchange exhibition zone, highlighting examples and collaborative accomplishments in this field.

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SOURCE China Daily

Technology

Huawei Unveils the Xinghe Intelligent Autonomous Driving Network Solution, Accelerating Digital and Intelligent Transformations Across Industries

Published

56 mins ago

September 27, 2024

SHANGHAI, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — At HUAWEI CONNECT 2024, the “Xinghe Intelligent Autonomous Driving Network” session successfully brought together over 100 representatives from enterprises, industry experts, and partners. During this session, Huawei introduced the industry’s first L4 autonomous driving network solution — Xinghe Intelligent Autonomous Driving Network, paving the way for comprehensive digital and intelligent transformations across various sectors.

As AI technologies reach critical milestones and AI applications approach a tipping point, industries are increasingly adopting AI solutions. Also, the rapid advancement of computing power has led to the widespread implementation of digital twins and various large language models (LLMs), driving network intelligence into a new phase of rapid development. The integration of these new technologies into the network domain is becoming inevitable.

To address these advancements, Huawei launched the Xinghe Intelligent Autonomous Driving Network solution for enterprises. Wang Hui, President of NCE Domain at Huawei Data Communication Product Line, emphasized that the solution features a three-layer architecture comprising intelligent network elements (NEs), digital twins, and an intelligent brain. It integrates foundational capabilities, including the 10B-level-corpus telecom foundation model and cloud-map algorithm powered simulations, to create an L4 autonomous driving network capable of self-identifying risks, autonomously resolving faults, and self-verifying changes. This solution offers an AI-assisted O&M expert designed for various industries, including finance and education.

Intelligent NEs: These NEs can sense comprehensive data — including services, traffic, and applications — within milliseconds, providing essential data for network-wide intelligence and significantly enhancing the processing efficiency of underlying network devices.Digital twins: The network digital map creates a multi-dimensional, real-time visualization of the network, allowing for online simulations. It offers a lightweight operations and maintenance (O&M) solution that facilitates trial and error, accelerating the innovative iteration of network operations.Intelligent brain: Utilizing the telecom foundation model, this component accurately interprets user intentions through natural language, transforms user requirements, and dynamically invokes various scenario-based AI agents, achieving end-to-end network intelligence.

As AI model technologies continue to evolve and deepen in application, Huawei remains committed to ongoing research and development, striving for more precise intelligent decision-making and efficient automated management across various scenarios, ultimately helping customers’ networks advance towards L4 high-level intelligence.

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Technology

China Arbitration Summit 2024 and China-MENA Arbitration Summit Held in Beijing

Published

56 mins ago

September 27, 2024

BEIJING, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The China Arbitration Summit 2024 and China-MENA Arbitration Summit was successfully held in Beijing on September 26, under the theme “International Arbitration Transcending Eras.” Nearly 500 attendees from 47 countries and regions, including government officials, leaders from international organizations, and representatives from major arbitration institutions, judges, arbitrators, lawyers, scholars, and business professionals, participated in the event.

The forum achieved practical results, contributing to strengthening legal cooperation, advancing international arbitration, and supporting the global economic order.

Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC), highlighted that CIETAC has solidified China’s leading position in arbitration. He emphasized that CIETAC aims to contribute further to high-quality international arbitration development, global economic recovery, and the building of a shared future for humanity.

Li Mingzheng, Vice Minister of Justice of China, stated that CIETAC’s independent, fair, and efficient arbitration services are widely recognized domestically and internationally. He emphasized the need for continuous innovation in arbitration, further development of rules, and enhanced international collaboration to build a global brand for arbitration services.

Wang Shumei, a senior justice and member of the Supreme People’s Court of China, shared measures taken by Chinese courts to innovate in arbitration and improve their role in global governance. She affirmed that Chinese courts will continue to foster a favorable legal environment for the advancement of international arbitration.

In a video message, Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary-General of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), reaffirmed UNCITRAL’s commitment to addressing the new opportunities and challenges posed by modern dispute resolution.

Ismail Selim, President of the International Federation of Commercial Arbitration Institutions (IFCAI), stressed that arbitration must evolve to align with the era’s trends of digitization and interconnectedness, promoting shared vision, adaptability, inclusivity, and global integration.

The forum saw the launch of the “2024 International Arbitration Cooperation Initiative”, led by CIETAC and supported by arbitration institutions primarily from the Middle East and North Africa. The initiative aims to enhance cooperation among international arbitration bodies and contribute to building a community of shared future through arbitration.

CIETAC signed cooperation agreements with six international arbitration and legal service institutions, establishing mechanisms for joint research projects, co-hosted training, mutual recommendations of arbitrators, and shared use of facilities.

The summit was organized by Guangxi CA Panorama Group.

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