Focussed approaches for a safer digital world
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from digital attacks. It includes measures such as firewalls, encryption, access controls, and threat detection. Effective cybersecurity reduces the risk of data breaches, financial loss, and service disruption across personal, corporate, and government environments.
TÜV SÜD’s experts are specialists in cybersecurity assessment, training, audit, and certification across all industrial and commercial sectors from nuclear to the payment card industry. From cyber risk assessments and cybersecurity training, to carrying out security certification projects, we have successfully helped companies to improve their cybersecurity. With a structured approach to cybersecurity services developed from many years of experience, domain specific knowledge and regulatory expertise, we offer support to companies across a range of sectors. Organisations achieving compliance to global security standards, can access markets across the world.
Our cybersecurity assessments provide decision-makers with the critical information they need to maintain business operations in the event of a cyber event such as:
Identifying business critical assets, cyber essential assets and their interdependencies
Evaluating the cyber posture of the supply chain
Developing provable plans to manage cyber events and maintain / return to operations
View all CYBERSECURITY training courses
Information Security Management System: Lead Implementer
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Awareness
Introduction to IEC 62443 for Integrators & Suppliers
Industry 4.0 Cybersecurity Management
Functional Safety and Cybersecurity Workshop
Automotive Cybersecurity Level 1 ISO/SAE 21434 Training Course
Automotive Cybersecurity Level 2 ISO/SAE 21434 Training Course
Find out how our cybersecurity services can increase your business resilience Contact Chris
Companies want to take advantage of the increased efficiencies, high flexibility and cutting-edge innovation that digitisation brings. However, many companies are not taking the threat of internet-based attacks seriously enough. An incident involving malware or ransomware can halt business within minutes, and cost an organisation thousands of pounds to rectify. And the reputational damage of an IT security breach, especially if it involves personal customer data, is devastating.
With increased digitisation, there is a potential increase in the opportunities for cyber attacks. That’s why every company needs to take cybersecurity seriously and invest in measures to defend both their physical and intellectual property. To guarantee the best possible level of protection, digital security should be “built in” to every product, underlying business processes and at every organisational level, including global supply chains. By creating effective, secure barriers against threats and attacks, companies can win the battle against cyber risks.
The overall message is simple: Investing in cybersecurity gives organisations a competitive advantage and enables them to be market leaders in their respective industries.
Companies cannot just rely on the basic level security tools delivered with IT infrastructure and software. Today, cyber attacks are more sophisticated, targeted and effective than ever before. A holistic and overarching approach is needed to ensure the highest levels of cybersecurity; an approach that not only secures physical infrastructure, IT hardware, and applications, but also educates and empowers employees to ensure any cybersecurity threats are minimised or even eliminated.
Investing in cybersecurity infrastructure, having corporate cybersecurity policies and certification, as well as promoting employee awareness, allows companies to proactively minimise threats. By protecting customer data, corporate intellectual property and essential infrastructure, companies can plan the digitisation of their business with confidence and take full advantage of the opportunities that await.
Critical infrastructure, such as power generation, transport and telecommunications used to be stand-alone systems. Nowadays, they are more interconnected than ever and rely on a network of internet connections, servers and devices. The same is true of industrial infrastructure, such as production lines and distribution networks. By opening up infrastructure to take advantage of remote access/control and real-time monitoring through industrial control systems, companies are an easier target for DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. Such attacks flood a server or network with unwanted internet traffic, which overwhelms the service and takes it offline.
Nearly every device in a modern office is connected to the corporate IT network – servers, PCs, laptops, mobile devices, printers, photocopiers, telephones. Even the most innocuous piece of hardware is open to a cyber attack and, once breached, might allow hackers to access critical systems. Also, despite extensive pre-release testing, software vulnerabilities are common. If patches and updates are not installed regularly, hackers can take advantage of backdoor access to applications, easily taking over and reprogramming systems.
Most users easily identify emails offering them lots of money as spam and usually ignore the temptation. However, what happens when an email arrives that appears to come from the HR Department with a request to download a file? Or a message is received from a potential client with a link to a website? These messages may be security threats containing hidden spyware, malware or computer worms. The intruders quietly replicate themselves over the network, slowing down resources, modifying or deleting files or even relaying data off site. But threats to data are not only confined to cyber attacks on a network. Loss or theft of unencrypted USB drives, unauthorised access to laptops or mobile devices when users are travelling, or sending an email containing data to the wrong person can all result in a damaging data breach.
Those behind cyber attacks are difficult to identify personally. A hacker’s aim is usually to disable networks, take websites offline or access sensitive data. Sometimes, hackers are motivated by personal gain; ransomware attacks, for example, block access to a computer or network which can only be released after a payment (ransom) has been made. Other times, hackers are driven by social change or a political cause and classify their activities as “hacktivism”, a type of online protest or civil disobedience.
It is very important that any connected system or device has a good level of cybersecurity to defend against any malicious actor trying to gain unauthorised access. Weak cybersecurity resilience can leave systems vulnerable to attack with consequences which could include loss of service, financial loss or even threats to personal safety. Good cybersecurity provisioning is the first line of defence against attack and varies greatly in its form depending on the type of threat. Some examples of cybersecurity in practice are:
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Human Factor – A company must have a robust employee cybersecurity training program to ensure employees can recognise potential threats. |
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Keeping Software Updated – Ensure that regular software updates are supported. |
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Secure by Design – Ensuring that cybersecurity is designed in by default in systems, devices and software. |
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Testing and Auditing – Cybersecurity threats never go away, therefore cybersecurity resilience should be continually checked and verified by testing to available standards and bespoke programs. |
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Certification – Demonstrate a mature cybersecurity approach by attaining industry specific professional certification. |
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Threat Modelling – It is important to understand where the vulnerabilities lie, so each system should be individually assessed. |
Our cybersecurity services can help you defend your physical and intellectual property from evolving cyber threats arising from greater digitalisation.
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Action these 5 simple cybersecurity tips today to make your company more secure from cyber attacks:
It is important not only to secure your own organisation and also your global digital supply chains, including 2nd‑tier and 3rd‑tier suppliers.
Embed cybersecurity within your products and services from the very beginning. Adopt the principle of “security by default” by including cybersecurity in the design phase of any product, service or underlying process.
By increasing cybersecurity and risk awareness, you can use your employees as a “firewall”. Comprehensive training for employees and other relevant stakeholders is key to avoiding and mitigating cyber risks.
Obtain cybersecurity certification for products, services and business processes. Regular audits, particularly by a third party, are highly recommended. These measures help establish a strong baseline in cybersecurity and also show your customers and partners that your company is well prepared to defend against cyber attacks.
Encourage an active and positive culture for employees to engage in cybersecurity, for example by participating in industry consortia or public-private projects on cybersecurity. Cybersecurity needs to be a top priority for management and trickle down to all parts of the organisation, irrespective of size and location.
In the world of business, security, and data management, ensuring the safety and privacy of sensitive information is paramount.
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