Waikato Business News July/August 2021

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10 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS July/August 2021 Cyber security tool protects infrastructure A Waikato company has designed a cyber security system to protect vital infrastructure like electricity lines and manufacturing from hackers. First Watch, a spinoff from WaikatoLink, the University of Waikato’s commercialisation arm, is designed to protect the control systems of infrastructure including wastewater and electricity networks to fuel and gas lines or manufacturing facilities from cyberattacks. The company has joined with CTEK Combined Technologies, New Zealand’s largest installer of industrial control systems, and the system is being rolled out after an initial capital raising through WaikatoLink and commercialisation partner KiwiNet. WaikatoLink commercialisation manager Matt McMahon said First Watch had been piloted with three large New Zealand companies and is now in use by two large manufacturing businesses. They are also in talks with industrial control installers in Australia, the US, Europe and Asia. “As we’ve seen with recent cyberattacks, the need for better cyber security systems is very real and there are currently few options for protection of the infrastructure vital to our modern society,” said McMahon. As infrastructure and manufacturing control systems had increasingly moved online and businesses sought to link operations like accounting and manufacturing, they had also opened themselves up to cyber attackers. This month global meat producer JBS paid $11 million to hackers after a ransomware attack forced them to shut down their beef plants. In May, hackers targeted Colonial Pipeline which saw them shut down their operational supply and led to panic buying and gas shortages across America’s East Coast, before Colonial paid $4.4 million in bitcoin to hackers. Crown agency CERT NZ reported that between January and March this year there were 1400 reported cyber security incidents in New Zealand costing around $3 million. University of Waikato director of research and enterprise Simon Lovatt said traditionally the computing technology that controls the plants of manufacturing facilities has been separate to IT systems so, if hackers wanted to break in, they needed to be physically in the plant. “As we’ve connected things like accounting systems with manufacturing, industrial control systems have moved online and anything that’s connected to the internet can be hacked.” Previously people had worried about the actions of nation states in cyber attacks, but today cyberattacks have Simon Lovatt says the system is designed to take a zero-trust approach. become a large industry for organised crime with serious implications as seen in the Waikato DHB ransomware attack. The attack on the Waikato DHB was centred on its IT system, but Lovatt said if cyber attackers infiltrated industrial control systems, they could interfere with anything, from a city’s wastewater treatment to fuel supply and electricity lines or manufacturing facilities. While most cyber security tools manage the periphery, like a firewall on a personal computer, First Watch was designed to work at the core of an industrial control system creating a zero-trust environment, scanning for any data that should not be on the system and refusing to respond to it. “It stops the system doing anything different than its day-to-day operations unless any new directions are fully and properly authenticated,” said Lovatt. The system was also designed to take a complete inventory of all assets on a network and identify any that have not been updated or pose a risk. “That’s important because staff might connect to the system from a laptop at home and unknowingly introduce a virus. Having a full inventory of all software and hardware on a system is a really valuable tool,” said Lovatt As we’ve seen with recent cyberattacks, the need for better cyber security systems is very real and there are currently few options for protection of the infrastructure vital to our modern society. Stay two unforgettable nights in refined Kiwi style from $1544 twin share. Experience the essence of Rotorua’s Boutique Lakeside Hotel with complementary bubbles and chocolate on arrival, plus daily breakfast baskets delivered to your room. Then it’s up to you. Choose an extreme off road 4x4 and clay pigeon shooting adventure, or pamper yourselves with an indulgent day spa experience. To top off your weekend we’ll add in a complementary late check out from your accomodation so there’s no rush. THE ULTIMATE GETAWAY WEEKEND • Two nights’ luxury accommodation in a Lakefront room at The Black Swan Boutique Hotel. • Complementary bubbles and chocolate in your room on arrival. • Complementary breakfast basket for 2 each day of your two night stay. • Your choice of an activity together for 2 people, or a day out with one activity each. PHONE 07 346 3602 TO BOOK NOW www.blackswanhotel.co.nz 171 Kawaha Point Road, Kawaha Point, Rotorua
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS July/August 2021 11 THE ALL NEW & ROADSIDE ASSIST RRP FROM$ 52,990 * BEFORE REBATE +ORC CLAIM YOUR $5,750 # CLEAN CAR REBATE NOW BETWEEN 1 JULY AND 31 DECEMBER 2021 Safety rating RIGHTCAR.GOVT.NZ *$52,990 is the RRP of the New MG HS PHEV model with non-metallic paint and excluding all on road costs. Warranty terms and conditions available at mgmotor.co.nz/warranty. For commercial use vehicles, the lithium-ion battery warranty is covered for 7-Years or 160,000 Kilometres whichever occurs first. #$5,750 Rebate (subject to continued availability of rebate funds) calculated according to NZ Government Guidelines. Full eligibility details and calculations at nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/clean-car-programme/clean-car-discount Applies to registrations prior to 31st December 2021. Best of both worlds - 1.5T plus electric EV-only range - 63km Panoramic Stargazer Sunroof WINGER.CO.NZ | 1 & 25 The Boulevard, Te Rapa, Hamilton | Ph: (07) 838 1249
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Waikato Business News July/August 2021

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