How Cyber Security Is Shaping Automation Conversations

Opinion Piece by Ross Lacy, Sales Director at RARUK Automation.

Working for RARUK Automation, we have been selling automation systems into UK manufacturing for a long time. Recently, we have noticed a larger discussion around cyber security when we are talking to customers – rightfully so.

When you introduce not just robots, but PLCs, networks, cloud applications, digital workflows and so on into production facilities, you do expose your business to new risks. The landscape of risk has definitely changed in the last 30 years, because the technology has changed and that can’t be ignored. When OT (operational technology) is targeted, the consequences can include unplanned downtime, lost output, compromised product quality and even safety concerns.

We offer the Universal Robots product range in the UK, and we tend to put people at ease when we explain how UR complies with cyber safety frameworks. They are IEC 62443-4-1 ML2 certified and NIST RMF compliant.

With the new PolyScope X programming software for UR robots, we can offer a modern operating system (built on Debian 11) which is a secure and actively maintained 64-bit platform. The security settings are preconfigured to be stricter, with ports and certain services being closed or disabled by default. It also offers containerisation, which essentially isolates third-party code from the core system. Basically, this prevents a breach from spreading to the main controller.

Similarly, we also offer AMRs from fellow Teradyne Robotics’ company MiR (Mobile Industrial Robots). The release of MiR Fleet Enterprise software for the robots was a big step forward in terms of cyber security. MiR Fleet Enterprise complies with IEC 62443 Part 4-2 (SL-C 3), offering protection against targeted attacks, including denial-of-service (DoS) attempts. The mobile robots are designed with encrypted communications and user authentication.

It goes without saying that as technology evolves, so do the threats and risks associated with it. For us, the most important thing is that we work with manufacturers who are committed to keeping cyber security in mind from the product development stage and adapt to new risks as they develop. This way, we are able to offer products that are innovative and really beneficial to customers in terms of efficiency and productivity, whilst also being compliant with modern cyber security standards.