The Industrial Cybersecurity Center in Belgium

Team

Stephen Smith

Stephen Smith is an independent advisor on digital security risks. He has spent more than 30 years in the ICT industry with a focus on information security and has dedicated these past 10 years on risks associated with industrial control systems. He resides in Belgium and provides digital risk management services to local and multinational […]

Maite Carli García

Maite Carli is Communication Manager and General European Coordinator at the Industrial Cybersecurity Center. Specialized in administration of networks and communications, industrial critical infrastructures, industry 4.0, data analysis technologies in the Health sector and industrial cybersecurity, having done several advanced courses and a master. She has developed her professional career in the United Kingdom for […]

Mr.Stephen Smith, the Industrial Cibersecurity Center Coordinator in Belgium (CCI Coordinators Team), helps us to get in context of the state of the industrial cybersecurity in his country, and to do so, he shares with us his impressions.

He describes the level of sensitivity of industrial organizations in his country according to the following percentages:

He also affirms that the trend of recent years has been an increase in awareness but still remains unchanged.

Belgium counts with local and national public bodies promoting an adequate legal framework, in order to ensure the progressive incorporation of industrial cybersecurity measures in national presence companies (mainly critical infrastructure). The main organizations are:

  • Belgian Federal Cyber Emergency Team (CERT)
  • Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium
  • Federal Agency for Nuclear Control

Among the main national laws and regulations affecting in this context in Belgium, Stephen Smith mentions:

  • Royal decree of 2011 (Article 13)

Analysing the most widely adopted industrial cybersecurity measures by Belgian organizations to protect industrial automation systems, Stephen Smith highlights the application of:

  • Industrial cybersecurity consulting / advisory
  • Internal security audits
  • Conventional firewalls
  • Antivirus
  • Physical and logical access restriction

The CCI Coordinator in Belgium characterizes the industrial cybersecurity situation in his country with the following SWOT analysis:

Weaknesses

  • Lack of operational technologies certifications, processes and professionals

  • Lack of specific industry cybersecurity legislation

  • Lack of practical understanding and applicability

Strengths

  • Rise in legislative awareness and concern

Threats

  • High development of industrial applications without cybersecurity requirements

  • Slow legislation

  • Shortage of local industrial cybersecurity professionals working for manufacturers

Opportunities

  • Strategic position in the industrial cyber security sector

Activities

XVI International Congress of experiences in Industrial Cybersecurity. Europe

As a fundamental part of its activity, the Industrial Cybersecurity Center (CCI) will hold its XVI Industrial Cybersecurity International Congress in Europe from September 28th to 30th (9:00 to 14:00 CEST), one of the benchmark events for the European market, and a meeting and exchange point of knowledge, experiences and relationships of all the actors […]

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