COSCOM securely drives digitalization on the store floor

COSCOM Computer GmbH is therefore launching a web service on the market that meets the increased IT security requirements. Nothing stands in the way of the further, "secure" digitalization of the store floor. The production environment is now also increasingly exposed to cyber attacks. The networking of IT and OT is providing massive support here.

The 2020 status report from the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) speaks for itself: the number of new malware variants has increased by over three million compared to 2019. This is also an indicator that hackers have built up considerable criminal energy and are acting more decisively than ever before.The Internet of Things (IoT) megatrend has led to more and more "things" (i.e. machines) being networked with each other on the store floor. The problem, however, is that many of these production systems are practically unprotected when they are connected to the company network or the internet.

IT security for all types of machine control systems

A threat of this kind calls COSCOM Computer GmbH onto the scene. In the past, COSCOM has worked intensively on the process-secure networking of CNC machines, also known as "DNC". Christian Erlinger, Managing Director of COSCOM, is all too familiar with the problem of IT security: "The controllers of CNC machines are now integrated into TCP/IP networks like a standard PC with network cards. In modern machines, the machine control runs on Windows or Linux operating systems. However, there is no homogeneous versioning of the operating systems with the latest security updates as with standard PCs. This offers an enormous attack surface."
If, for example, the machine control system has access to the internet because the machine is serviced remotely by the machine manufacturer, this opens the door to hackers. Christian Erlinger explains why: "There are no virus scanners installed on the control systems because they could have a negative impact on the real-time behavior of the control system. This would void the provider's warranty obligation. Another danger point is the USB connection on the machine, because the mobile data carriers could be bugged and unauthorized access to the entire network would be possible." The use of cloud computing for evaluation scenarios also harbors risks in terms of cyber security. However, the Managing Director assures that awareness of dangers from the network has now grown significantly. In the meantime, an IT security officer from the production plant is usually present during discussions about store floor networking.

Harmonization of different operating systems

COSCOM has developed the "IT Security Service" software product for this purpose. It is a modern web service that completely and reliably separates the machine network from the office network. A firewall is placed between the two, allowing both IT infrastructures to exchange data securely. For example, CNC programs can be transferred to the machining centers via activated ports.
Christian Erlinger explains: "Our IT Security Service eliminates the security risk on the store floor! COSCOM ensures that the IT can communicate with the historically grown structures in the machine park without danger." In addition, machine control operating systems no longer need to be updated for security reasons. The COSCOM web service compensates for incompatibilities between different operating system versions. This results in harmonization at a high IT security level.

Implementing digitalization holistically

The IT security service is also so valuable because not only can the store floor be networked absolutely securely, but the expansion of the company's own digitalization infrastructure can also be driven forward without any concerns. COSCOM has a wealth of experience as a store floor integrator. The innovative web service relieves the IT department of secure networking tasks on the store floor and supports the implementation of holistic digitalization strategies that link the top floor with the store floor.

Reference
(1) www.bsi.bund.de/DE/Service-Navi/Publikationen/Lagebericht/lagebericht_node.html

Further information at www.coscom.de

LEAD Industrie-Marketing GmbH
Hauptstr. 46
83684 Tegernsee
Germany

http://www.lead-industrie-marketing.de

Herr André Geßner
+49 8022 91 53 188
+49 8022 91 53 189
info@lead-industrie-marketing.de

COSCOM is a leading software system house that standardizes, networks and optimizes production data in the machining industry. The connection between the ERP system and production is a top priority. Projects in tool management, tool and data management, CAD/CAM and machine simulation as well as Infopoint / DNC networking are realized around the CNC machine. Competence in consulting and target-oriented project management are the basis for joint success - one contact, one responsibility, one successful project!

This release was published on openPR.