The rising number of cyberattacks on critical infrastructures calls for a global, proactive approach to cybersecurity. Faced with increasingly sophisticated threats, companies need to deploy comprehensive protection solutions integrating advanced detection, incident response, and centralized supervision. This applies to all critical infrastructures: transport, buildings, hospitals, data centers, etc. Securing critical systems relies on innovative technologies, robust processes, and human expertise to guarantee digital resilience.
Socomec builds cybersecurity into the foundation of electrical installations and digital services from the design stage. This is called “security by design”. We explain everything in this article dedicated to cybersecurity solutions for critical infrastructures.
The pillars of modern cybersecurity
Protecting critical systems and data
Implementing a multi-layered defense architecture is the foundation of robust protection. Dual authentication and encryption of sensitive data reinforce the security of access to critical resources. Fine-grained control of user authorizations enables access rights to be strictly limited according to the principle of least privilege: this principle involves granting users limited access rights according to the tasks they are required to perform as part of their job.
Detection and response to advanced threats
Continuous network monitoring enables us to identify suspicious behaviour quickly using advanced analysis technologies.
A team of experts analyses the alerts generated in real-time to qualify the seriousness of the threats detected. This proactive approach is supported by tools that accelerate decision-making in the face of cyberattacks.
Incident response is organized around a 24/7 security operations center. Analysts can instantly isolate compromised systems and deploy appropriate countermeasures to neutralize threats before they spread to the infrastructure (IT or electrical).
Governance and regulatory compliance
Mastering regulatory requirements is a key pillar in securing critical infrastructures. Companies must adopt a regulatory framework tailored to their industry.
Compliance with standards goes hand in hand with rigorous documentation of security processes. A regular audit program enables compliance with established standards to be assessed and practices to be adjusted as regulations evolve.
Companies are well advised to centralize their governance approach via a dedicated platform. This simplifies tracking key indicators, ensures traceability of corrective actions, and facilitates the production of compliance reports required by regulatory authorities.
Governance and regulatory compliance at Socomec
Security in our products and services is a top priority at Socomec. As part of our cybersecurity approach, IoT processes are certified by AFNOR to the international standard ISO/CEI 27001.
This certification guarantees the security of the value chain and attests that Socomec applies best cybersecurity practices to its IoT solutions.
Our engineers ensure that the hardware configuration allows data to be historically recorded, protected and not at risk of being lost in the event of an attack. Additionally, flow protection, storage, and data exchange are also reinforced.
Innovative technologies and cyber security
Securing IoT infrastructure and gateway
Protecting critical infrastructures from cyberattacks rellies on a range of technologies that have evolved over the decades. IoT (Internet of Things) is central to these infrastructures, facilitating data exchange and optimizing data management. However, the IoT itself is not intrinsically secure: the protocols and protection mechanisms ensure the security of communications and connected equipment.
IoT devices offer extensive connectivity thanks to several types of networks.
Cellular IoT uses LTE-M or NB-IoT, sometimes coupled with 3G/4G or 5G. This is the technology used in charging stations for electric vehicles, for example.
Local Area and Personal Area Networks (LAN/PAN), can use WiFi or Bluetooth technologies and are easily found in domestic environments.
Low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), enable a longer-range network to be set up than WiFi and Bluetooth allow.
Mesh networks are very short-range and may require additional sensors in a building or repeaters to achieve the desired coverage and reach gateways. Wireless networks make it possible to overcome field constraints (very large sites, building materials disrupting the signal, etc.), while ensuring the stability and security of the connection and data flows.
The various protocols are Application layers acting as an interface between the user and the device. Different protocols exist, depending on requirements: MAQP (Advanced Message Queuing Protocol), CoAP (Constrained Application Protocol), DDS (Data Distribution Service), and MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport).
IoT and cybersecurity: an unavoidable challenge
Socomec uses a mesh networks option based on LoRa technology.
Socomec deploys a closed, dedicated IoT network for your critical infrastructure without using a telecom operator. The technology is directly integrated into products through communications gateways. This cybersecurity solution limits the number of possible touchpoints for cyberattacks aimed at either data recovery or ransomware.
The consequences of such threats can be far-reaching, with production line disruptions, substantial financial losses, and loss of business continuity. That's why these critical infrastructures are designed with advanced protection measures, regularly assessed, and updated to ensure optimum resilience in the face of cyber threats.
Next-generation cloud solutions
The digital transformation of critical infrastructures is accelerating with the emergence of secure cloud platforms. These next-generation environments natively integrate advanced protection mechanisms such as automatic data encryption and multi-factor authentication.
Once up and running, machine learning enables ultra-rapid detection of malicious behaviour. Algorithms continuously analyse usage patterns to spot suspicious activity before it compromises critical assets.
The flexibility of a secure cloud platform also facilitates the deployment of critical updates and security patches on a large scale. This is a significant advantage for maintaining maximum protection against emerging threats, while guaranteeing the permanent availability of essential services.
Cloud to cloud to protect electrical installations in data center
Data centers are among the most secure of critical infrastructures. The stakes are so high that all aspects of the hardware and technology used within a data center must be perfectly thought through to reduce threats. The maintenance of installations and the management of electrical performance are therefore key here.
Socomec understands the challenges of data center management and has set up the necessary organization to ensure that the best solution is chosen for the data center's staff, and to guarantee the reliability and security of installations.
Connected, perfectly secure UPS systems
All Socomec UPS (uninterruptible power supplies) are equipped with a communication gateway or Net Vision IoT gateway connected to the Internet. Data is sent through the IoT platform, and SoLive enables additional services to be managed directly from the complementary application. The communication gateway has undergone functional and security testing to ensure its operability and resilience. The same applies to SaaS services.
All Socomec products, with their enhanced cybersecurity features, comply with the IEC 62443 security standard.
All these devices revolutionize UPS management in complete security.
Analysis tools to identify threats in real-time
Through a remote maintenance offer, Socomec engineers can assist managers in remotely monitoring the equipment’s condition, without endangering the infrastructure.
Data center generally have their own data capture solutions. But, to comply with customer security policies, Socomec has set up its European Cloud and offers the SoData service available in cloud-to-cloud mode.
This mobile application allows companies to monitor all their Socomec equipment without compromising security. Equipment data is absorbed as SaaS and uploaded to Socomec's European Cloud. Analyses are carried out in the Socomec Cloud, and the teams can’t access the organization's installations.
Secure gateways
IoT gateways for field networks connect to the Internet via a SaaS service. These gateways enable the integration of measurement, disconnection, and protection products. Following the “Secure by default” principle, only the necessary cloud-to-cloud communication is activated during installation, limiting exposure and guaranteeing equipment security.
Socomec offers three types of gateways: Diris Digiware M-xx and S-xx and NetVision to secure installations. These reliable systems use communication interfaces, displays, and sensors to monitor electrical energy, covering all applications (measurement, disconnection, protection, I/O control). The solutions can be adapted to different corporate security policies, enabling users to customize their settings to reduce exposure to cyber threats.