Cybersecurity under scrutiny at conference!

Security and automation professionals from various industries will gather next week in Atlanta, Georgia at the 2016 edition of SecurityWeek’s ICS Cyber Security Conference, the longest-running event of its kind. The International Society of Automation (ISA) serves as an alliance partner of the event, which takes place on 24-27 October. The event kicks off on Monday, 24 October with a series of open and advanced workshops focusing on operational technology (OT), critical infrastructure, SCADA systems, and management. Participants will have the opportunity to learn not only how an organization can be protected against attacks, but also how attackers think and operate when targeting industrial control systems (ICS). On Tuesday, 25 October, Admiral Michael S. Rogers, Director of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, will deliver the keynote address. Immediately following his keynote presentation, Admiral Rogers will take part in a discussion and question-and-answer session. Later the same day, Yokogawa’s Jeff Melrose will detail drone attacks on industrial sites, and ICS cybersecurity expert Mille Gandelsman will disclose new vulnerabilities in popular SCADA systems. In addition to an attack demonstration targeting a Schweitzer SEL-751A feeder protection relay, the day will feature several highly focused breakout sessions and a panel discussion on risk management and insurance implications. The third day of the event, Wednesday, 26 November, includes presentations on PLC vulnerabilities, attacks against air-gapped systems, cyberattack readiness exercises, and management issues. Also on Wednesday, ExxonMobil Chief Engineer Don Bartusiak will detail the company’s initiative to build a next-generation process control architecture. Breakout sessions will focus on risk management, incident response, safety and cybersecurity programs, emerging technologies, and the benefits of outside cybersecurity services in the automation industry. On Thursday, the last day of the ICS Cyber Security Conference, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the implications of the Ukrainian energy hack on the US power grid, practical attacks on the oil and gas industries, and how technologies designed for video game development and engineering can be used to simulate cyberattacks and evaluate their impact. Speakers will also detail the status of ICS in developing countries, the need for physical security, the implications associated with the use of cloud technologies in industrial environments, and the implementation of a publicly accessible database covering critical infrastructure incidents.   Produced by SecurityWeek, the ICS Cyber Security Conference is the conference where ICS users, ICS vendors, system security providers and government representatives meet to discuss the latest cyber-incidents, analyze their causes and cooperate on solutions. Since its first edition in 2002, the conference has attracted a continually rising interest as both the stakes of critical infrastructure protection and the distinctiveness of securing ICSs become increasingly apparent. @SecurityWeek #Pauto