A nationwide cybersecurity strategy forms the backbone of national resilience. By sharing data with each other, leading economies have worked to create a connected digital network that helps them respond quickly to global disruptions. However, while countries aim to cooperate, their priorities often differ. Each nation’s security approach is based on its own local data and physical resources. Mining sites, for example, provide important geographic information that supports national security, and any breach or compromise of these sites could pose serious risks.
Before supply chain globalisation, mining operated on fragmented legacy systems that were limited to fulfilling regional extraction needs. Like many other industries, mining evolved to a digital-first approach following the global wave of digitisation that set new standards across sectors worldwide.
According to PwC, modernisation in mining has introduced machinery with remote-control capabilities and internet-enabled sensors. Historically, the mining industry’s hazards were primarily related to health and safety risks in mining areas and among those involved in operations. However, this premise has fundamentally shifted. Today, risks in mining extend far beyond the underground. A misconfigured sensor, an unsecured remote access portal, or a compromised third-party vendor can all serve as entry points for cybercriminals.
While mining infrastructure may not retain substantial personal data, hackers are increasingly targeting the industry for ransom, as well as conducting espionage campaigns to steal confidential geological mapping or resource data. Unlike typical cyberattacks, mining breaches can result in devastating real-life consequences – including halted operations, supply chain delays, safety risks, and damage to key equipment.
A gold mine of data
In today’s interconnected world, mining plays a key role in global supply chains. Mining operations are intrinsically linked with supply chains – supplying key materials, extracting and exporting, and delivering resources to production plants. The mine-to-market link encompasses all operations, from extraction through to transportation and storage equipment, handling, processing plants, rail and port.
Beyond the sudden physical challenges faced by the mining industry, including loss of biodiversity, heat waves, floods or droughts, the sector also faces escalating risks to digital integrity. Hackers now increasingly recognise the potential opportunities for exploitation, compromising key mining systems to harvest geopolitical data.
Only a few years after one of the most significant cyberattacks in mining, it is crucial to remember the paramount role of cybersecurity in the mining industry.
Zero trust security as a viable solution
Ransomware is a continuing, fast-expanding global issue that jeopardises the proper functioning of critical nationwide infrastructure. A multi-layered approach is one of the best ways to mitigate risk and drastically reduce threat exposure.
Zero Trust is what is called a holistic approach to security. It is a model built on the requirement of strict identification controls. Through ZT, anything that attempts to access resources on a private network, regardless of being inside or outside the network perimeter, is inherently distrusted and always verified.
With many ‘catch-them-all' cybersecurity tools continuing to set unrealistic expectations, mining companies need to become aware that reactive cybersecurity will not suffice as threats advance, boosted by artificial intelligence and AI-enabled vulnerability scanning tools, which help malicious actors gain entry into systems and significantly lower barriers. Proactive cybersecurity makes all the difference.
In short, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a way to address threats before hackers gain access to the system. This approach makes it significantly harder for malicious actors to infiltrate the network and take control of key operations – fostering a more robust cyber posture. By adopting a Default Deny principle, such systems limit connectivity across all users, devices and assets to only what is essential for singular operations, thereby minimising the attack surface and potential access points.
ZTA enables companies to act promptly if suspicious activity is detected. Through network segmentation, ZTA prevents the lateral spread of malware and helps mining companies contain breaches. In the context of mining, this means that only a specific segment of a plant might fall victim to delays or halted operations – while allowing all other interconnected operations to continue running.
With high-profile hacking in the news, understanding the overwhelming power of ransomware is paramount. Building a resilient digital profile is key to safeguarding critical assets – keeping them both secure and private.
Adopting a safety-first mindset
As attacks become more sophisticated, layered defences are increasingly important. Digital safety is a continuous journey of training and improvement of key security infrastructure. Employing a multi-layered cybersecurity stack and combining it with regular cybersecurity awareness training for employees is can significantly help prevent system vulnerabilities.
Promoting cybersecurity awareness across all levels of the organisation is critical. ZTA reduces the risk of employees falling victim to attacks by halting the lateral movement of hackers. However, relying solely on ZTA without appropriate staff training results in an unsustainable cybersecurity strategy in the long run.
Securing mining’s digital future
The mining industry is undergoing a significant digital transformation, driving growth at all levels of operations. From digital assets to machinery used in mining plants, everything is now connected – prompting sites to become increasingly intertwined with global supply chains.
Yet, these advancements introduce new touchpoints and potential vulnerabilities – a single breach can trigger a catastrophic domino effect, impacting multiple sites and operations. Essentially, hackers are given opportunities to exploit critical systems and disrupt operations on an unprecedented scale. To mitigate these risks, building an all-encompassing cybersecurity strategy is essential. By ensuring a fortified digital posture and integrating ongoing staff training, mining companies will be able to safeguard their data and future-proof their digital assets against exploitations.