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ASSET MANAGEMENT
Ramping Up Cybersecurity in the Industrial Sector Industrial and other types of facilities are smarter and more computerized (more hackable) than they were in the past, but cyber awareness and security has not kept pace. By Jason Lund, Managing Director, Technology Infrastructure, Property Management Group, JLL
• • Manufacturing/Fabrication:
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he world of real estate is making significant strides toward adopting the latest and most innovative technologies. But with more tech comes heightened risk. One of the latest ransomware attacks this year impacted up to 1,500 businesses globally by targeting U.S. IT company, Kaseya.1 Brazilian meatpacking company, JBS, also experienced a cybersecurity attack that forced the company to shut down operations,2 which could have been detrimental to its supply chain and to the U.S. food supply. In January 2021, a hacker was able to break into a water treatment plant system (by stealing an employee’s username and password) in an attempt to modify the chemical components that were treating drinking water.3 This could have impacted hundreds of households’ drinking water.
Risks for Industrial Properties On the surface, industrial might appear to be relatively safe in comparison to other property types. We tend to think of four concrete walls and a rooftop with a lot of space inside for tenants to do their business. With such low complexity, how much could a cyber actor do? Well, not all industrial is created equal. A summary review of different types of industrial quickly shows potential vulnerabilities:
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These types of industrial properties rely heavily on “up-time,” meaning all systems up and running as products are produced. Cyber threats to this business would include any action that could disrupt production and throw off timelines and schedules. Additionally, for products manufactured robotically, machines are calibrated by computer to cut, stamp, score, heat, and cool to certain parameters and specifications to create the desired product. These parameters are set by computer and can be altered slightly by bad actors. Pipes and screws, parts for cars, parts for home appliances, electrical equipment to be used in homes, cars, and home electronics are all made with very precise measured specifications. If these specifications are altered in any way (much like the cyber terrorist that attempted to alter the drinking water purification chemicals in San Francisco), the product is at best ruined and thrown away, at worst utilized in some larger project only to have the defects revealed in some type of failure.
• • Food Processing:
Thinking again of vulnerabilities, freezer space and refrigerated spaces are critical for prevention of salmonella poisoning. These
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12/1/21 1:14 PM
