In the light of progressive digitalisation, organisations are increasingly automating the way they process information and perform repetitive tasks. This transformation is both universal and unstoppable. Cybersecurity – or rather, information security, which includes cybersecurity - plays a key role in this.

Information security: availability, integrity and confidentiality

Information security is about safeguarding the availability, integrity and confidentiality of information. As an organisation, you want information to be there when you need it; you must have access to it as soon as you turn on your computer screen. This information should be accurate, up-to-date and comprehensive. And it must be accessible only to authorised personnel, so that your data does not fall into the wrong hands. We would remind you in this context that the vast majority of cyberattacks and data leaks are due to errors committed by staff inside organisations.

Cybersecurity: office automation and digitalisation

Progressive digitalisation of office processes has made the discipline of information securitisation increasingly important. This applies to all manner of organisations, from small SMEs that outsource their payroll records to multinationals, for whom digitalisation is now a way of life. This is also making it more important for vendors of those IT services and the structure of your business processes to comply with strict security requirements. In other words, IT service providers need to guarantee the availability, integrity and security of your data. And your business processes must be structured to support information security. Your customers may ask you for proof of this in the form of ISO-27001 certification.

Industrial security: operational technology

Robotisation on the shopfloor is now a reality in many production plants. And operational technology plays an increasingly crucial role in the training of staff. These robots are obviously programmed to perform specific tasks, which means the information in them must be secured. They must do precisely what you want, when you want it. However, this industrial security (IEC-62443 certification) is still in its infancy, regardless of how advanced your equipment may be. So the main challenge here is to generate greater internal awareness of the need to invest in ways to protect your systems from viruses that could disrupt your production processes, often at the worst moments.

Product security: embedded software and Internet of Things (IoT)

More and more physical products are connected to the internet. These days, for example, the first thing you do to resolve a problem with your car is to update the embedded software. And in many households, vacuum cleaners and domestic lighting are now controlled by smartphones, to name just a few examples. Software is in everything. Embedded software of this kind must therefore be completely virus-free. In practice, however, many engineers fail to take sufficient account of this in the design and production of such software, with the result that many products are vulnerable to hacking. Securing embedded software, otherwise known as product security, is a major challenge for many manufacturers.

What can BDO do for you?

Are you aware of, and do you understand, the risks associated with your digitalised processes? And do you know what measures you may need to take? What does your organisation need in the way of technology, business processes and human intervention? To start, BDO can perform a risk assessment and vulnerability scan for you. We would be pleased to implement technical, procedural and organisational measures for you, so that you will be awarded the relevant certifications (ISO-27001 and/or IEC-62443). We also run special programmes to teach your staff what to do to prevent unnecessary disruption to your operations.

Our specialists would be happy to tell you more about information security in the context of digital transformation. We are ready to provide you with new perspectives on the opportunities that are available within your organisation.

For more information about our specific services in the field of cybersecurity, please visit this page.

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