Recent data reveals a concerning surge in cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure worldwide. Australia and the UK have both experienced a significant rise in incidents, with a quarter of reported attacks in Australia and 70 percent in the UK directly aimed at essential service providers, including education, health, communications, electricity, water, and transport. These attacks pose severe risks to vital services, necessitating a careful balance between conducting essential condition inspections of aging assets and safeguarding structural and operational data, according to Mitch Deam, Director, and Chief Compliance Officer at Trendspek.
In the UK, where critical assets have been in place for decades, condition inspections play a crucial role in identifying defects, tracking their progression, and informing maintenance planning to prevent catastrophic failures in water, energy, transport, and communication systems.
In Australia, where assets are relatively new, regular assessments help proactively prevent defects and extend the efficient lifespan of critical infrastructure.
Traditionally, on-site inspections involving personnel taking photographs from hazardous heights or cherry pickers were the norm.
However, these photos were often stored in various locations, ranging from desktops to insecure cloud-based filing systems, making them vulnerable to international hackers seeking to disrupt operations and exploit system vulnerabilities for personal gain.
Fortunately, recent advancements in the asset condition assessment industry have introduced innovative software capable of translating hundreds of thousands of data points into comprehensive digital twins and 3D Precision Reality Twins, effectively digitizing the inspection process.
This technological breakthrough not only saves millions of dollars in maintenance costs but also enables more sustainable services through defect prevention and accurate planning.
However, the security of this vast amount of data becomes a paramount concern as not all platforms adhere to the same rigorous security standards.
Mitch Deam emphasizes the importance of a security-first approach, particularly in precision asset intelligence (PAI) software. To achieve PAI status, software must adhere to stringent security principles. Trendspek has demonstrated its commitment to security by achieving recertification of ISO27001 for the fourth consecutive year and recently becoming the first in its class to obtain ISO27701 certification.
Recent statistics from Australia’s ACSC indicate a 15 percent increase in reported attacks, with government and infrastructure sectors reporting incidents of intellectual property removal or damage and attacks on critical national infrastructure supply chains.
The Russo-Ukraine conflict has further heightened concerns, with global critical infrastructure suppliers reporting increased attacks. Denmark’s Broadcasting Corporation has revealed Russian military efforts to map offshore wind farms, gas pipelines, and power and internet cables along their coast.
The UK government has also acknowledged the amplified risk, issuing an unprecedented warning about cyber threats to critical infrastructure in June.
Despite heightened security awareness, major assets worldwide continue to experience preventable failures in bridges, dams, and other infrastructure.
These incidents highlight the need for more frequent and robust condition assessments.
“While cyber risks continue to escalate, it is crucial for technology providers like us to lead the way with security-focused solutions,” Deam stated.
“Although there will always be lessons to learn and ongoing advancements to implement, we must strike a balance between safety, asset longevity, and productivity.
“This remains our primary mission.”
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