The Cyber Defense eMagazine November Edition for 2023

OT Cybersecurity: Safeguarding Building
Operations in a Digitized World
By Mirel Sehic, Global Director of Cyber Security, Honeywell
In an increasingly digitized world, the looming threat of cyberattacks has cast a shadow over nearly every
aspect of our lives. As technology continues to intertwine with our daily routines, the vulnerability of a
building's critical infrastructure becomes ever more apparent. These concerns are brought into the
spotlight by high-profile ransomware attacks, which can now penetrate even the most intricate systems.
Recently, in September, the gravity of this threat was illustrated when two Las Vegas casinos fell victim
to an information technology (IT) cybersecurity breach. This breach not only caused slot machines to be
down but also rendered hotel cards useless, among other disruptions. The aftermath of these attacks
cost these institutions millions of dollars in revenue, underscoring that no business, regardless of the
sophistication of its cybersecurity systems, is immune to such attacks.
While this example shows how the consequences of any cybersecurity attack can be severe, it is
imperative to also recognize that attacks associated with operational technology (OT) cybersecurity can
be even more catastrophic. In these cases, operations cease, and entire systems come to a standstill.
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