Critical infrastructures, such as electricity grids, water distribution and supply networks, the public sector, transport or financial systems, underpin the functioning of a modern society. Any attack that compromises their integrity or affects their availability can have serious consequences for public safety, the economy or the environment.
In this context, cyber resilience in critical infrastructures becomes a strategic pillar for society. It is not only necessary to protect these systems from digital attacks, but also to ensure their ability to withstand, respond to and recover from incidents.
What is cyber resilience and why is it key?
Cyber resilience is the ability of a system to prevent, withstand and recover from cyber-attacks. In industrial environments, this capability is essential to ensure the continuity of essential services.
As infrastructures become more digital and interconnected, their exposure to cyber risks also increases. Consequently, protection is no longer based solely on preventing attacks, but on the capacity to manage them effectively and efficiently when they arise.
What cybersecurity risks do critical infrastructures face?
These infrastructures are based on cyber-physical systems, which integrate physical processes with digital controls. Working in a coordinated manner, these systems assist with decision-making across planning, operational and resilience matters. This fact expands the strategic capabilities of the infrastructure but also its surface area of exposure to cyber-attacks.
The advancement of digitalisation within critical infrastructures includes:
- Monitoring and control tools: systems such as SCADA (which enable data collection from across an entire facility and network to centralise control), and DCS (which distribute control among various physical points of the infrastructure), alongside IoT sensors.
- Operational decision-making systems: local prediction systems, systems for detecting leaks or electrical anomalies, etc.
- Planning decision-making systems: advanced simulation models, climate prediction models, risk analysis, etc.
This digital ecosystem is integrated into complex tools such as digital twins or even data space systems to share information and models with other entities in the value chain, as well as with other European organisations.
In this environment, the cybersecurity threats affecting these systems are diverse: from ransomware attacks, which lock or encrypt files and demand a financial ransom to recover them, and industrial malware, malicious software designed to damage or steal information from a system, to distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
And they are not hypothetical. In recent years, various cyber-attacks have affected real-world infrastructures such as hospitals, transport systems and public services in several countries, significantly disrupting their normal operations.
In this scenario, the ability to anticipate, withstand and respond to cyber-attacks, that is, cyber resilience, is essential to ensure continuity of service and protect public safety.
How to protect critical infrastructure: diagnosis and strategy
Cyber resilience in these environments is not an option, but a strategic necessity. Identifying vulnerabilities and taking pre-emptive action is critical, but it is also fundamental to assume that, sooner or later, a cyber incident will arise, and ensure that advanced detection and response capabilities are in place.
To meet this challenge, we offer a key service: the Industrial Cybersecurity Diagnostic, which evaluates the security level of systems within an industrial operational environment.
This service combines information gathering and technical analysis with the application of two complementary analysis frameworks: the Industrial Cybersecurity Centre (CCI, for its Spanish aronym) maturity model and the NIS2 Directive, establishing maturity levels that allow for assessing the level of exposure to be assessed and defining a roadmap for improving the digital protection of the infrastructure.
The assessment is aimed at companies in sectors such as electricity supply, gas distribution, water treatment, transport or heavy industry, among others.
The process includes interviews, network analysis, review of security policies and on-site verifications. Furthermore, where required, it includes an attack simulation phase under strict control and with the client’s authorisation. The entire process is carried out in close collaboration with the client, ensuring the effective transfer of knowledge and technology.
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Discover Eurecat’s Industrial Cybersecurity Diagnostic service
STOP-IT: a pioneering project to harden the water cycle
One of the most significant examples of Eurecat’s commitment to cyber-resilience in critical infrastructures is the European project STOP-IT, focused on protecting the water supply system, one of the most sensitive infrastructures.
This project developed a comprehensive platform to manage security risks, both physical (intrusions, equipment tampering…) and digital (cyber-attacks, malware, denial-of-service attacks…). The objective was to protect the entire service chain: from the intake stations to the distribution points serving the public, integrating anomaly detection mechanisms and intelligent incident response.
Among the key results, the project succeeded in increasing the detection of cyber-physical attacks by 50% and significantly reducing incident response times, reacting in under ten seconds. It also helped to lower citizens’ exposure to risks related to the quality and continuity of the water supply service.
The Eurecat team contributed solutions based on systemic risk identification systems, open data systems, artificial intelligence and intelligent detection techniques to address cascading risks and systemic failures. This approach has enhanced the overall resilience of the water sector, establishing a collaborative framework between research centres and service operators that strengthens preparedness for future complex risks.
SECUTIL: surveillance and response for urban public services
Eurecat has also participated in the SECUTIL project, aimed at strengthening the security of urban public infrastructure.
By integrating monitoring platforms, big data analysis and automated incident detection, SECUTIL contributed to increasing the response capacity to cyber-attacks or deliberate disruptions, based on evidence generated by sensors and digital systems.
The project’s approach has improved the protection of essential services such as street lighting, water supply and urban communication networks. SECUTIL stands out for its preventive approach, which allows for rapid action in the face of cyber-attacks or disruptions, making cities more resilient and prepared for cyber-physical emergency situations.
The human factor and cooperation
Cyber-resilience is not just a matter of technology. It also depends on staff training, organisational culture and collaboration between organisations. As infrastructures become more complex and interconnected, mechanisms are needed to share real-time information on threats, vulnerabilities and incidents.
In this regard, Eurecat acts as a facilitator of collaboration, providing specialised knowledge, technical training and strategic support in establishing protocols and best practices.
No critical infrastructure without cyber resilience
The digital era has transformed our infrastructures, making them more efficient and connected, but also more vulnerable. Cyber-attacks on essential services are a tangible reality, with recent cases having affected electricity supply, water or communications in various parts of the world.
In this scenario, cyber resilience is no longer an option: it is a structural necessity to protect the functioning of society.
Investing in prevention, detection, response and collaboration is key to anticipating risks and reducing the impact of potential incidents.
With a combination of applied knowledge, advanced technology and a commitment to the common good, Eurecat positions itself as a strategic ally to strengthen cyber-resilience and ensure the security and continuity of essential services.
