The Cyber Resilience Center for the Manufacturing Industry of South Holland (CWM) has launched the CWM OT Security Simulation, a unique test environment where cyberattacks on Operational Technology (OT) are simulated in a safe and realistic setting. This simulation is held at the Flow Center of Excellence (FCoE), located in the Duurzaamheidsfabriek (Sustainability Factory) in Dordrecht, and is the only location in the Netherlands where companies can gain this unique experience. It provides insight into threats to the OT environment, enabling them to develop targeted strategies for improved cyber resilience.
With increasing digitalization and the rise of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), OT systems are increasingly being connected to IT networks. This increases the risk of cyber incidents, as traditional OT networks were not traditionally designed with robust security measures. Cyberattacks can have significant consequences for businesses, from production outages to ransomware attacks, jeopardizing business continuity. Due to the strong supply chain dependencies in the manufacturing industry, such incidents can have a domino effect throughout the entire sector.
Experience a cyberattack in a safe environment
The CWM OT Security Simulation offers entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to experience a (potential) OT cyberattack in a controlled environment. Participants gain insight into the vulnerabilities and threats of OT networks and receive practical tools to promote cybersecurity within their organizations. The Flow Center of Excellence, with real installations, offers an OT environment where experimentation is possible. It's a place where situations can be created that should be avoided in practice, but are still valuable to see and experience, so that it becomes clear what happens when they do occur. Batenburg Techniek, one of the CWM coalition partners, developed the scenario for the demonstration.
Rob Verseijden, OT Cybersecurity Specialist, Batenburg Techniek:
The complexity of OT systems and their increasing integration with IT make cybersecurity in the manufacturing industry more challenging than ever. With the scenarios in the CWM OT Security Simulation, we show businesses how cyberattacks work in practice and how they can protect themselves against them. By raising awareness and offering concrete solutions, we help companies make their operational processes more secure and resilient. The demonstration runs through a realistic scenario that highlights various attack techniques within OT networks, such as the use of infected USB drives, unauthorized access, and manipulation of SCADA systems.
About the CWM OT Security Simulatie
The CWM OT Security Simulation is a collaboration between the Cyber Resilience Center for the Manufacturing Industry of South Holland (CWM), Batenburg Techniek, the Flow Center of Excellence (FCoE), the Duurzaamheidsfabriek, Da Vinci College, HiDelta, and Security Delta (HSD). It offers SMEs a unique environment to experience OT cyberthreats and improve their cyber resilience through realistic simulations and practical knowledge sharing.
