Cyber security and engineering
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Reading ICE’s State Of The Nation: Digital report, it struck me that civil engineering, like many kinds of engineering, is driven by the fundamental vision to make people’s lives better.
New digital technologies can help achieve this by advancing functionality and enabling better ways of working. But they also introduce new vulnerabilities and it’s important that we reduce the harm that might arise if these vulnerabilities are exploited.
It doesn’t matter if harm arises from a safety flaw in a construction, a legal loophole in a process, a cyber security issue or a combination of factors, we’re all trying to achieve the same thing – to build a resilient system. Tackling this problem independently can't ever be as effective as taking a holistic approach.
[edit] Cyber security and engineering collaboration crucial
Communication across different disciplines like IT and civil engineering isn't always easy. Our perspectives and language differ, as you'd expect, because they've evolved independently around our respective 'technologies'.
Take your 'caissons' and 'BIM', and our 'TCP/IP stacks' and 'APTs'. But as our two worlds become more connected we've both realised that concentrating solely on technical aspects is no longer enough.
We need to work out how to collaborate more effectively and concentrate less on outputs for us and more on outcomes for people.
For this reason cyber security shouldn't exist as a separate 'IT thing’, or 'somebody else's problem'. It must be integrated into the engineering process not bolted-on later as an afterthought.
Consider the relative longevity of construction/infrastructure systems and their building design information (i.e. the BIM data). Once we take into account planning, construction, commissioning, handover stages and then the post-completion warranty period. The common data environment (CDE) may need to remain in service for up to 20 years and some of that data will need to be accessible for the lifetime of the built asset (say, 60-plus years).
How people will use and interact with the building? Therefore, how this data is stored, protected and accessed by all the different parts of the supply chain will evolve significantly during this time, so a robust, security-minded approach is needed.
An excellent starting guide is the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI)’s Digital Built Assets and Environments. It includes more information and links about the specification for security-minded building information modelling, digital built environments and smart asset management: PAS 1192-5.
Considering how this approach is supported by the engineering process to achieve the right level of resilience now and in the future will require a more collaborative effort than we have ever seen before. Cyber security needs to be part of the conversations from the start.
At the NCSC we understand that cyber security is a complex topic, and that these conversations will probably involve more questions than answers to begin with. As part of realising our vision of making the UK the safest place to live and do business online we need to break through some of the fear, uncertainty and doubt that commonly dominates the narrative.
[edit] Cyber security research in practice
The NCSC carries out a lot of research, because we want our outputs to be evidence based, not best guesses. We want the things we do and say to really make a difference to people, so we know we need to understand the social and behavioural aspects of our customers as well as their technical concerns.
To do this the NCSC formed a new Sociotechnical Security Group (StSG) in January last year. The group's research topics are spread across three main themes: people, risk and engineering processes.
At the moment, having confidence that engineering processes adequately consider cyber security beyond compliance is very difficult. Our research needs to support engineers from all disciplines to navigate through a whole-life model of security and assurance: embracing both a risk-based and people-centred approach rather than simply a tick-box exercise.
We need to enable you to identify and cost-effectively address the foundational building blocks of your engineering process to gain confidence that what you're building is secure enough for the business’ needs.
But we also want to ensure we produce something that talks in a language that everyone can relate to, not just cyber security experts.
This article was originally published here on 19 Sept 2017 by ICE. It was written by the National Cyber Security Centre.
--The Institution of Civil Engineers
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Articles by ICE on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- Building energy management systems BEMS.
- Cyber-security and phishing.
- Cyber threats to building automation and control systems.
- Data Protection Act.
- Digital technology.
- Infrastructure and cyber attacks.
- Measuring the success of smart cities.
- Mitigating online risk.
- Security consultant.
- Smart technology.
- State of the nation: Digital transformation.
- UK organisations encouraged to review cyber security in response to situation in and around Ukraine.
Featured articles and news
HBPT and BEAMS Jubilees. Book review.
Does the first Labour budget deliver for the built environment?
What does the UK Budget mean for electrical contractors?
Mixed response as business pays, are there silver linings?
A brownfield housing boost for Liverpool
A 56 million investment from Homes England now approved.
Fostering a future-ready workforce through collaboration
Collaborative Futures: Competence, Capability and Capacity, published and available for download.
Considerate Constructors Scheme acquires Building A Safer Future
Acquisition defines a new era for safety in construction.
AT Awards evening 2024; the winners and finalists
Recognising professionals with outstanding achievements.
Reactions to the Autumn Budget announcement
And key elements of the quoted budget to rebuild Britain.
Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers Budget
Repairing, fixing, rebuilding, protecting and strengthening.
Expectation management in building design
Interest, management, occupant satisfaction and the performance gap.
Connecting conservation research and practice with IHBC
State of the art heritage research & practice and guidance.
Innovative Silica Safety Toolkit
Receives funding boost in memory of construction visionary.
Gentle density and the current context of planning changes
How should designers deliver it now as it appears in NPPF.
Sustainable Futures. Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
More speakers confirmed for BSRIA Briefing 2024.
Making the most of urban land: Brownfield Passports
Policy paper in brief with industry responses welcomed.
The boundaries and networks of the Magonsæte.