To stay competitive, energy companies have to be able to monitor every link in the production chain — from well to refinery to SUV fuel tank.
Drilling sites, pipelines and refining operations all rely on complex networks of sensors, controllers and software to maximize productivity and prevent costly accidents. Wireless devices like digital
two-way radios, smartphones and tablets play a vital role in keeping the fuel flowing, but they also offer tempting targets for cybercriminals looking to compromise vital energy company data.
In a white paper published in 2014, Motorola Solutions noted that energy companies have represented 40 percent of the targets of cyber attacks. The white paper, “
Protecting Operations in the Energy Sector Against Cyber Attacks,” also quoted a prediction that “cyber attacks against oil and gas infrastructure will cost companies