Ethernet-APL and cybersecurity in the digital age
Ethernet-APL and cybersecurity in the digital age
Publish Date: 2026-01-30 09:59:00
Source Domain: www.controlengeurope.com
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. 30 January 2026Interview with Tilo Merlin, ABB Measurement & Analytics.Q: Digital technologies are transforming industries, but they also expose companies to cyber risks. Can you explain why cybersecurity has become so critical in digitised factories and process plants?Digital technologies provide immense benefits to industry but being more connected and data-driven can increase vulnerability to cyberattacks. Incidents such as data breaches, ransomware attacks and insider threats are real risks that factories and process plants face. When you work in a traditional IT environment, your systems are regularly upgraded. But factories can operate with legacy systems that weren’t designed to cope with security threats. As a result, new digital technologies integrated with older systems create complex security challenges, making it important to identify and defend against vulnerabilities. Q: What makes protecting measurement data so important in these environments?Safeguarding measurement data is essential for preventing disruptions in operations. Beyond safety and environmental protection, compromised data can have serious commercial implications. This can include short-term financial losses or long-term reputational damage. Additionally, any impact on regulatory compliance could lead to issues with regulators. Essentially, protecting this data ensures that operations run smoothly and that companies maintain their standing in the market.These considerations are often top of mind when digital systems are rolled out in industrial installations. Reputable suppliers have been raising the bar in cybersecurity so that manufacturers can explore the benefits of new technologies safely and securely. Q: How do new technologies such as Ethernet-APL help address these cybersecurity challenges?Conventional industrial communication technologies such as fieldbus rely on “security by obscurity”. This means that the protocol is difficult to learn, and access requires very specific tools and hardware.Ethernet-APL enables remote monitoring and data-driven maintenance even in hazardous environments, which is vital for modern industrial operations. On Ethernet-APL secure protocols, such as https, we can implement OPC Unified Architecture. OPC Unified Architecture is a cross-platform, open-source, IEC62541 standard for data exchange from sensors to cloud applications developed by the OPC Foundation. It allows for secure communication through encryption and authentication. Industrial protocols, such as PROFINET, work on security enhancements taking into account Ethernet-APL right from the beginning.At device level, Ethernet-APL-enabled solutions can come with built-in security features, such as disabled unsecured protocols by default, encrypted communication, and password protection that forces users to change default passwords during commissioning. The use of password protection creates a traceable footprint trail, with any changes being attributable to specific individuals, while encryption and disabling of unsecured protocols helps to prevent data being intercepted. These features ensure that the flow of sensitive information remains secure. ABB builds security into products at all stages of the product lifecycle and security measures apply to all our Ethernet-APL devices. Security measures include the possibility for the user to deactivate unused protocols, password protection for parameters and communication via secure protocols, and an integrated audit trail function. In addition, we run comprehensive robustness tests and mandatory scan for known vulnerabilities with any new release at an independent test facility. Q: How can companies stay secure while benefiting from new technologies?The risk of cyberattacks can never be eliminated, especially with the pace of technological change. However, it can be contained. Companies need to have proactive security measures in place, such as incident response processes, security alerts, and patch management. Digital solutions offer so many potential benefits and the good news is that the need for companies to defend against bad actors need not be a barrier to reaping those rewards.Contact Details and Archive…
