Speed and security are the two principles with which the key management system was developed. The result of an innovative collaboration between Harcor and Amtac, Keys-on-Tap is a new revolutionary key management platform that takes those two core principles to new levels. Keys-on-Tap paves a critical avenue for fleet management and includes capabilities that have never been made accessible before […]
Working with leading telecommunication provider Optus, Spectur has delivered surveillance solutions to protect critical assets from theft and vandalism. After three years of partnering together, Optus and Spectur will extend their collaboration to boost security for vulnerable telecommunication assets and support Optus’s commitment to strengthening mobile network security. Optus has updated its Statement of Works with Spectur through an existing […]
An increasing reliance on technology in water and wastewater infrastructure management has resulted in cybersecurity challenges becoming a significant concern in the sector, and one that must be addressed to ensure a safe and reliable water supply. As more critical infrastructure is connected to the internet or accessible to staff, it is increasingly targeted by cybercriminals interested in breaching operational […]
It’s time to update our definition of operational technology (OT). OT once described a group of technologies that directly monitored and controlled our equipment, assets, processes and events. Today, it is far more complex. The addition of sensor networks, embedded computing, feedback loops and external stimulus allows our process plants to self-activate communication, control and compute functions. OT today is […]
New amendments to the Telecommunications Regulations 2021 will enable telecommunications companies to temporarily share approved government identifier information with regulated financial services entities to allow them to implement enhanced monitoring and safeguards for customers affected by a data breach. The amendments follow the data breach at Optus, including government identifier information such as drivers licences, Medicare and passport numbers of […]
A recent cyber-attack has left Optus’ customers at risk of fraud after perpetrators seized customers’ private information including, in some instances, drivers licence and passport details. Customers’ personal information including their name, date of birth, phone number, and email address – and in some cases sensitive documents such as drivers licences and passports – may have been exposed by person/s […]
Cybercrime has increased in volume and sophistication during the pandemic, with the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) revealing in its annual threat report for 2020-21 that it had received 67,500 cybercrime reports. That was up by 13 per cent from the previous year with losses exceeding $33 billion. ACSC reported that a quarter of cyber security incidents were associated with […]
Concern regarding the potential vulnerability of utility and critical infrastructure to cyber attacks plays a significant role in smart technology adoption. When a field device can be contacted remotely, this opens the possibility that this same capability can be used for unauthorised access, and remote hacking becomes a real risk requiring careful consideration. When investigating the use of one-way versus […]
The fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, refers to the ongoing automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial practices, using modern smart technology that has the potential to analyse and diagnose issues without the need for human intervention. The interconnected nature of industry 4.0–driven operations, along with the acceleration of digital transformation initiatives, has increased cyber security risks, and […]
The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) is prioritising digital asset management and critical infrastructure security with the launch of two key projects. Digital asset management WSAA has recently formed the Digital Asset Taskforce to accelerate the implementation of digital asset management by water businesses nationally. The taskforce has started by developing the foundation of a digital asset strategy and […]
Next-generation security lighting, also known as intelligent lighting, dramatically reduces light pollution and operating costs, while introducing new capabilities such as intrusion detection and active deterrence measures. Security lighting is a well-established method of deterring theft and vandalism at utility assets and other high-value sites. While lighting alone won’t stop a determined intruder, a well-lit site can discourage those who […]
Technological innovations, such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, have opened up new opportunities for businesses to improve and optimise their operations, but the increase in connected and intelligent devices has exposed a number of vulnerabilities in the utility sector’s approach to cyber security.
View the Cyber Security Hub
by Michael Litherland, Cyber Security, Thales Australia Critical infrastructure providers are under increasing pressure to deliver services more efficiently and at a lower cost, as a result of market competition, technological change and stringent regulations. To achieve this, many organisations have sought to automate and integrate more and more of their Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems. […]
by Andrew Joyner, Cyber Security, Thales Australia Cyber attacks pose an ever growing threat to organisations across the water, energy, transport and communications sectors as IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology) converge, creating new and unique risks in both the physical and digital worlds. In order to manage and minimise these risks, organisations first need to assess their […]
by Andrew Joyner, Cyber Security, Thales Australia Today’s digital and physical worlds are increasingly overlapping as digital devices that monitor and/or control physical effects become commonplace. While the convergence of IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology) can bring many benefits, it also poses new and unique risks to critical national infrastructure, particularly with cyberattacks having consequences in the […]
As more legacy industrial devices are being connected to the internet, understanding the security impact and exposure this faces can be vital. By implementing industry standard security measures, you can help defend your network from cyber-attack and gain a visual understanding of your security coverage. With the recent increase in and awareness of cybersecurity attacks on industry, companies are starting […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in state-wide lockdowns, mass event cancellations and the closure of workplaces, as social distancing measures become key to slowing the spread of the disease. Despite the restrictions on travel and in-person meetings, the Digital Utilities event was able to connect utility leaders across the country by moving quickly to deliver a successful digital conference. Hosting […]
EKA CyberLock is an electromechanical master key system providing all the benefits of an access control system without the need to cable. The system can be installed into almost any locking situation ranging from conventional doors to padlocks securing remote assets. The innovative communication and user management options between the administration software and the CyberKeys allow security managers to tightly […]
by Grant Turvey, Utilities Lead, Accenture Australia and New Zealand, and Joseph Failla, Security Lead, Accenture Australia and New Zealand The utility network in Australia is undoubtedly critical to our nation, with powerlines spanning over 5,000km from Port Douglas to Tasmania –one of the world’s longest single electricity grids. The rise in cybercrime, combined with impact assessments from global case […]
An Australian utility’s Distributed Energy Resource (DER) trials have been presented with a prestigious award at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting held in Chile. The joint silver award was presented to Horizon Power, and its project partner Murdoch University, for its Carnarvon DER trials as part of the Energy Smart Communities Initiatives’ (ESCI) Best Practice Awards, in the category of […]
Developed after inspecting over 90,000km of powerlines using beyond visible line of sight (BVLOS) flights, the Terra Drone solution suite leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to automate damage detection – such as rust on bolts, birds nests and loosening of tower parts – and vegetation management in power transmission and distribution equipment. Terra Drone Corporation, the world’s largest provider of industrial drone solutions, has […]
The winners of the 2019 Digital Utility Awards have been revealed at a Gala Dinner at the Digital Utilities Conference in Melbourne. Six awards were handed out celebrating the utility industry’s greatest achievements in the digitisation of utility networks, processes and practices across Australia. The winners are: Best Customer Innovation Award – Jemena Best Use of New Technology Award – […]
Trying to out-fox criminals is a demanding challenge, and while being open and transparent with security sounds counterintuitive, Jemena’s Operational Delivery Risk Manager, Justin Morghem, insists this type of collaboration and cooperation makes corporations and communities more resilient to crime.
The Victorian Government will contribute $980,000 towards the Ovida Community Energy Hub project, as part of the Labor Government’s statewide Microgrid Demonstration Initiative. The $2 million Ovida project will install shared solar PV and battery systems in three buildings in Melbourne to help cut energy costs for tenants. The initiative will benefit approximately 650 customers, generate 5000kWh of solar energy […]
by Simon Vardy, Managing Director, Accenture Australia Utilities Strategy Practice The threat of cyber attacks on power infrastructure is a cause of global concern, with their critical systems a prime target for cyber attackers to inflict serious damage and disruption. In the past twelve months, hackers have breached the networks of energy providers in Germany, Ukraine and the US using […]
by Col Muller, Business Continuity and Resilience Manager, SA Water and the Resilience Expert Advisory Group (REAG) Why is organisational resilience important for the Australian utilities sector? Societies are highly reliant on the continuous availability of utility services. The total economic cost of natural and man-made disasters in Australia exceeded $9 billion in 2015. This is expected to rise to an average of $33 […]
For the past seven years, Melbourne has been ranked the world’s most livable city. For me, it’s the environment – the trees – that contribute to not just Melbourne’s reputation, but the state’s, as a great place to live and visit. But, as Head of Network Compliance at United Energy, CitiPower and Powercor, it’s Victoria’s leafy characteristics that also pose a challenge when it comes to managing our network.
by Mark Halliwell, Taggle Systems SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) Systems are a major contributor to the daily operation of most water service providers’ activities. A wide variety of sensors connected to RTUs (Remote Telemetry Units) or PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) collect data from, and allow control of, equipment located throughout the water supply system, from the point of […]
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