Cybersecurity

“Process Industry 4.0” is based on various technologies, one of which is the use of previously unused sensor data from the field level for plant monitoring and optimisation. With the NAMUR Open Architecture (NOA) and the Open Process Automation Standard (O-PAS), two reference architectures have already been established for this. They allow the automation systems (operational technology, OT) to be interconnected more easily and flexibly with the superordinate IT systems. However, the IT/OT convergence achieved in this way results in new requirements for cybersecurity, as process plants and critical infrastructures are no longer isolated systems. To guarantee plant availability and process safety and to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the data at all times, the plants must be specifically protected.

Cybersecurity in the process industries ensures process safety and plant availability - the be-all and end-all for every process plant. We ensure process safety with our functionally safe measuring devices. These devices have SIL (Safety Integrity Level) according to IEC 61508 or IEC 61511. In addition, cybersecurity ensures that these safety functions cannot be compromised. We achieve high availability of our products through a robust design of the electronics and software.

When transmitting data between process instruments, automation and IT systems, it is important that the process data and device settings cannot be manipulated. We ensure this by using modern interfaces and cryptographic procedures according to the current state of the art, especially when it comes to wireless interfaces.