Industrial cybersecurity for automotive manufacturing
In recent years, automotive manufacturers have increasingly become targets for cyberattacks, significantly disrupting production and exposing weaknesses in the sector. These attacks often leverage vulnerabilities in connected systems and supply chains. Not only are the costs of cyberattacks high, but they can also threaten a company’s very existence, and, in the case of critical infrastructure, they can even endanger human lives.
There can be no digital transformation without cybersecurity
In today’s rapidly changing market, digitalization enables manufacturers to collect and intelligently use the data they generate to automate and optimize their processes, reduce costs, add flexibility, and become more sustainable. However, the increasing connectivity between informational technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) has also expanded the attack surface for cybercriminals, making cybersecurity a critical concern across the automotive industry worldwide.
The layers of Siemens industrial cybersecurity solution
Industrial cybersecurity protects the expertise and productivity of automotive enterprises from the growing number of cyber threats in OT and the IoT. To protect automotive operations, Siemens relies on the multilayer defense-in-depth concept – extended by Zero Trust principles – because the only way to effectively counteract cyber threats is with a comprehensive concept that is applied at all the relevant levels, including plant security, network security, and the system integrity of automation systems alongside the associated security services for implementing multilayer security concepts for industry.
Plant security
Plant security ensures the protection of manufacturing facilities from cyber threats to minimize downtime, prevent costly damages, and maintain efficient operations. With Siemens’ cybersecurity solutions, plant security establishes the conditions necessary to ensure that the cybersecurity measures in place cannot be circumvented by other means.
Siemens network cybersecurity measures provide:
- Physical access protection infrastructure such as barriers, turnstiles, cameras and card readers
- A security management process to ensure organizational cybersecurity
- Industrial Cybersecurity Services for Plant Security (assessments, consulting and training)
Network security
Network security in an automotive manufacturing plant prevents cyberattacks by implementing firewalls, intrusion detection devices, and encryption. Using Siemens solutions for network security, you can protect the automation network against unauthorized access, especially at connection points to other networks (office or internet). Network segmentation provides additional protection, and data transmission for worldwide remote access to distant plants via internet or mobile networks is protected with a VPN.
Siemens network cybersecurity measures provide:
- Secure access to OT networks based on Zero Trust principles
- Secure interfaces to other networks
- Network segmentation and cell protection concept
- Secure remote access
- Efficient and secure network management
- Industrial Cybersecurity Services for Network Security (assessments, consulting and training)
System integrity
The third pillar of Siemens’ balanced security concept is system integrity, which protects the software and hardware systems within manufacturing processes from cyber threats. These systems include control components, automation, and SCADA and HMI systems. They require secure communication, protection against unauthorized access and malware, and intellectual property protection.
Siemens measures for system integrity provide:
- Protection of the control level, including PLCs, HMI, and secure communication between them
- Secure access management for machines and plants.
- Industrial Cybersecurity Services for System Integrity (assessments, consulting and training)
Siemens industrial cybersecurity experience and expertise
Plant security, network security, and system integrity elements form the foundation of the automotive cybersecurity concept at Siemens. Siemens’ expertise in automation, digitalization and automotive manufacturing means that we are the most reliable partner for ensuring the security of your digital transformation. We follow an end-to-end approach at our own plants and with our customers, from evaluating your security status and implementing security measures to continuous monitoring and security management.
Take cybersecurity in your company to the next level
Industrial cybersecurity is a dynamic topic. Potential hazards, security risks, and defense measures are constantly changing. That’s why it’s essential to maintain an overview of the current state of knowledge continuously. Our security experts are here to support you.
Learn more
Information about Siemens cybersecurity solutions for the automotive industry can be found here.
Information about Siemens Smart Manufacturing for the automotive industry can be found here.
