Building automation system cybersecurity can’t wait
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. It’s a good time to ask: “Is my BAS cybersecure?”
Hackers set their sights on the BAS for a variety of reasons. Some want to find a backdoor into IT computing systems. Others want to cause disruption by gaining environmental control of sensitive facilities.
Today’s BAS are interconnected, offer remote access, feature third-party integrations and are used in operationally critical applications. That makes them more vulnerable.
The evolving threat landscape
Cyberattacks targeting building automation systems have become more frequent, more complex, and more expensive to recover from.
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks can knock your system offline. Malware infections can manipulate your BAS to behave erratically or shut down entirely. Stolen access credentials can let bad actors roam freely across your OT environment. This access can potentially lead to accessing the IT network. And then there are zero-day exploits. These target legacy BAS components with older firmware or systems that haven’t been patched or secured.
Easy targets are outdated systems, those still using factory-default passwords or unencrypted protocols. These provide an open door for attackers.
Here’s what you should do during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month:
Start With A Vulnerability Audit
Improving building automation system cybersecurity starts with visibility. Conducting a vulnerability audit reveals where your system is most exposed and where upgrades can make an immediate difference.
Network segmentation is often the first line of defense. Isolating the BAS from the broader enterprise network can contain threats and limit lateral movement for hackers once they’re on the network. Continuous system monitoring helps spot anomalies in real time, providing early warnings.
Evaluate IT Protections
Basic IT protections like access control, data encryption and firewalls to block malware are now expected in any secure BAS deployment. One common risk that can cause tension between the IT team and facilities departments are building control system servers that are on the network but not fully understood by the IT department. A private cloud service can reduce this risk.
A review of access control is important because it limits who can log into the BAS and from where. It also ensures that logins are traceable and time-bound. Many organizations are still using outdated credential systems that make it easy for hackers to impersonate trusted users.
Fast Response Makes A Difference
Finally, document and test your incident response plan. This ensures that when a breach does happen, the IT and executive teams know how to react in a clear and directed manner. After an attack this plan helps understand what has happened and respond in a way that minimizes downtime and impact.
Why Updating Your BAS Matters Now
The longer an organization waits to implement building automation system cybersecurity, the more vulnerable it becomes. Its systems also become increasingly incompatible with newer cybersecurity tools and standards. Outdated systems are harder to defend, harder to integrate, and often overlooked in broader security frameworks.
So, let Cybersecurity Awareness Month be an excuse to evaluate your BAS protections. Cybersecurity isn’t static. Threats evolve. So should your building automation system cybersecurity. Researching your vulnerabilities and identifying a plan of action can make a big difference if your BAS is breached.
Next Steps Checklist
What can you do today for better cybersecurity? Here is a checklist of the action items listed in this post:
- Change passwords.
- Ensure software stack- from OS to application – is updated to latest versions.
- Segment BAS network from IT network or use Private Cloud service.
- Ensure system monitoring and logging is active and continually reviewed.
- Meet with IT department to discuss integrating encryption, firewalls and other cybersecurity functionality.
- Clean up network access by removing users who no longer need access.
- Review and test incident response plan to ensure fast action in the event of a breech.
