Cyber-risk et gestion de l’eau : entre résistance et résilience
Smart Energy
Innovation
Since the mid-1990s, with the development of IP-based solutions, water management infrastructures have been exposed to new threats. Beyond the risks of physical intrusions, the danger is also digital.
Water management is a sector that is not exempt from digital transformation. This transformation addresses various challenges, foremost among them the need for more precise indicators and data to minimize the environmental impact of pumping and discharges. The development of connected solutions and IoT remote management products now allows for the remote control and management of all data from hydraulic infrastructures, while integrating cyber-risk and management considerations to secure these critical systems.
By embracing digital technologies, water operators not only achieve greater daily efficiency but also enable technicians to streamline their efforts and prioritize actions. Financially, the gradual abandonment of connections via the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) also promises cost reductions. Indeed, equipment connected via analog telephone lines costs an average of €20 per month and offers only local and occasional data access. Thanks to IP technology, monitored and exchanged information is accessible at all times and from any location via an Internet connection, at a cost not exceeding €5 per month. Ease of information access and budget control are significant advantages, but they must not overshadow the potential downsides.
Facing New Threats
When water remote management devices were connected via a traditional telephone cable, the risk of data interception was limited,” explains Roland Crambert, Communication Director for the Environment activity at LACROIX. And for good reason! It required not only physical access to the connection but also the ability to intercept data that was only transmitted occasionally.
“With the development of the Smart Environment, which involves the use of IP technologies (fixed or mobile), exposure to cyberattacks is as high as with any device connected to an information system,” adds Roland Crambert.
To ensure the security of water management infrastructures, every player in the value chain must adopt a set of best practices.
“Cyber risk must be considered like any other business risk,” notes Roland Crambert. “Water is a precious resource inherently linked to public health and the environment—two matters far too serious not to guarantee the highest level of security.”
Roland Crambert
Communication Director for the Environment activity at LACROIX
Cybersecurity at the Heart of the Challenges
Given the critical importance of the issue, LACROIX has directed its research and development of solutions with a “security by design” approach. Next-generation devices like the SOFREL S4W rely on authenticated connections, fully encrypted data exchanges, and automatic link restoration. Recognizing that security must be end-to-end, the interface that allows each link in the chain to access information is protected by a firewall and a VPN, as well as business applications and messaging systems.
“To address cyber risk, one must take a step back and consider the issue as a whole, leaving no gaps,” says Roland Crambert.
This challenge is further complicated by the regulatory context associated with the implementation of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in 2018 and the prospect of increasing cyberterrorist threats, which underscore the urgency of addressing these concerns!
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