IT professionals, cybersecurity analysts and industrial technicians all have a commonality — a desire to protect critical infrastructure. Utilities like HVAC systems are among the most critical for smooth operations, but they also open numerous backdoors for cyber threats. For some companies, HVAC technology cybersecurity is their biggest oversight in defensive decision-making, so what paths can they take to rectify it?
Common HVAC Technology Cybersecurity Concerns
Heating and cooling equipment are deceptive yet powerful entryways for threat actors, even in comparison to devices like computers and phones.
Poor Internet Connections
Many facilities embracing Industry 4.0 and 5.0 strategies have incorporated building management systems (BMSs) and other automation tools to enhance productivity. However, increasing tech and app stacks merely expands surface areas for attackers. Of the 467,000 organizations with BMSs, 75% are vulnerable to known exploits and hacks. Many of these connected nodes are internet-dependent and may have insecure or unstable connections.
Outdated Systems
Antiquated hardware and outdated software are among the weakest attack surfaces. When a system no longer receives service updates internally or from vendors, attackers know it is vulnerable to novel threat variants. Additionally, older systems without internet are still prone to physical threats.
Reliance on Default Credentials
As digital transformation takes many facilities by storm, the number of new devices introduces growing pains. Learning to use and manage devices takes time, leaving some cybersecurity essentials to fall by the wayside, like changing a device or program’s default credentials to something more secure and compliant. If these remain the system default, attackers can enter the HVAC equipment with no resistance.
Inadequate Network Segmentation
Threat actors target critical infrastructure like HVAC systems because they connect to numerous operating systems and workflows. It has a significant and disruptive impact. While the lack of segmentation may make some tasks more convenient, it allows cybercriminals to move easily from servers, accounts and devices. HVACs could be an easy path to some of the company’s most foundational systems.
Third-Party Vulnerabilities
Sourcing HVAC and related software from third-party suppliers has numerous advantages. However, organizations must prioritize cybersecurity as much as they do. Otherwise, the supply chain introduces more vulnerabilities, starting with its installation and continuing through its maintenance life cycle.
How HVAC Systems Introduce Vulnerabilities to Other Systems
HVAC systems could be the starting point for many cyberattacks due to their connections to other structural and digital components. Therefore, protecting the HVAC enhances security for the rest of the building by:
- Reducing lateral movement between other networks.
- Removing gateways into other systems.
- Preventing data theft, destruction and encryption from multiple areas.
A threat actor that has successfully infiltrated HVAC technology could easily gain access to a data center’s cooling equipment or a building automation system’s security cameras. Cybercriminals could cause temperatures to exceed the relative humidity threshold of 60% or disrupt recording and monitoring in a building’s most critical sectors.
Facility stakeholders should also consider how expanding entry points threatens the safety and efficacy of other technologies. For example, one entity may attempt to achieve greater sustainability by integrating on-site renewable energy with its heating and cooling structure. It must understand how vulnerable connected systems could threaten power stability and resilience for these investments.
Ways to Reinforce HVAC Systems for Industrial Facilities
Organizations can transform HVAC’s most significant oversights into actions that make its defenses more robust.
Segmenting Networks
Doing so begins with implementing network segmentation, which isolates the HVAC system from other critical building components. Sensitive business data remains in immutable, disconnected locations. If a hacker navigates into HVAC equipment or software, it becomes a dead end and helps analysts triage.
Implement Strict Access
Companies can also institute stronger access controls and expectations throughout their workforce. This begins with changing default credentials to meet industry-standard security requirements.
Then, businesses should only allow access to select individuals, who must execute several authentication measures in addition to entering a username and password. These may include multifactor authentication via biometrics to add an additional layer of security. The rules must span all working environments, including on-site and remote connections.
Send Frequent Patches
Regular patches could be one of the best ways to preserve system integrity. Smart HVAC systems are often connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), which can make them vulnerable to malicious threats. Surveys indicate that 57% of IoT devices have vulnerabilities that make them susceptible to medium- and high-severity threats. This is why researchers are working diligently to design more effective intrusion detection systems.
Establish Better Third-Party Relationships
Teams can also construct a more holistic update schedule for HVAC systems. The foresight will remind analysts and third parties to consider novel threats. Minimizing complacency is crucial for establishing a culture that prioritizes cybersecurity within the facility and in relationships with business partners.
However, it is a facility’s responsibility to establish strict standards for vetting third parties, which includes corporate suppliers and independent contractors. An immovable security posture is just as contingent upon the strength of these connections because it is reliant upon internal structures. Thorough interviewing and market research can reveal those most concerned with reducing security risk and amplifying their awareness of modern threats.
Why HVAC Is the First Line of Cyberphysical Defense
It is essential to reinforce computers and servers with as many defensive strategies as possible. However, facilities must prioritize other infrastructure equally, including HVAC technology cybersecurity. These systems are equally — if not more — susceptible to threats as other industrial fixtures, with countless accessible strategies to strengthen them. Stakeholders must take action to thwart preventable threats from disrupting operations.
Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief at Revolutionized Magazine. A regular contributor to Brilliance Security Magazine, she has over four years of experience writing articles in the industrial sector.
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