Industrial cybersecurity is lagging years behind general IT security. This is the conclusion reached by TÜV Rheinland in its Cyber Security Trends 2019 forecasts. This is apparently a result of indifference and low investments.

Cybersecurity experts at TÜV Rheinland have identified a total of eight particularly significant developments this year, including the fact that cybersecurity is now perceived as a management level issue rather than as an IT problem.

The outlook for the industry is not very rosy. Although deficiencies in operational technology systems can have serious consequences, they have long been neglected. This applies above all to security surveillance systems.

The report also finds that standards pose a challenge to IoT cybersecurity. Manufacturers may have difficulty finding out which regional or sector-specific standards they have to take into account.

According to the consulting firm Deloitte, protection for industrial companies basically starts with the realization that they are a potential target. Interfaces between office and production IT, in particular, require constant monitoring.