Authors: Ioannis Kakogiannos, Ignasi Garcia-Milà, WORLDSENSING
The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionised technology by enabling seamless connectivity and communication among devices. From smart homes and wearable technology to industrial automation and smart cities, IoT applications have become integral to modern life. However, this interconnectedness also brings significant cybersecurity risks. Understanding these risks and implementing effective mitigation strategies is crucial for ensuring the safety and reliability of IoT environments.
In the railway sector, IoT enhances safety by providing real-time data on infrastructure operations and environmental conditions. For instance, sensors can detect track geometry variations, monitor weather conditions, and ensure that signal systems function correctly. Automated alerts and control systems can then respond to potential hazards, reducing the risk of accidents.
Nevertheless, IoT devices generate and transmit vast amounts of data. Inadequate security measures can lead to data breaches, exposing confidential information to unauthorised access and misuse. The challenge lies in integrating cybersecurity awareness and defences within legacy systems. The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks is prompting railway operators worldwide to adopt new ICT products, including cloud and IoT services for passengers, rail analytics and monitoring. However, without properly integrating cybersecurity systems into the railway infrastructure, these implementations may leave the systems vulnerable to new threats and attacks.
In Phoeni2x, a dedicated use case in the railway sector has been selected for further investigation. Next-generation services for a digital railway infrastructure will be deployed, enhancing the proactive strategy of Machine Learning based real-time identification of cyber-attacks, and identifying and isolating security and safety threats in rail operations by subdividing the system into three layers: data collection, data processing, and data analytics. The experimentations will cover:
- A comprehensive set of functionalities for protecting the deployed OT/IT infrastructure against major physical and cybersecurity threats.
- Endpoint security for remote devices with access to the core system.
- Tools for automatic system vulnerability assessment when new products, devices, or features are added to the system.
- Continuous anomaly detection monitoring tools.
These measures aim to reinforce the railway systems against cybersecurity threats, ensuring a robust, safe, and reliable IoT-enabled environment. The scenario to be validated will include target requirements such as incident/threat detection, sensitive data protection, authentication and integrity, system authorization, delay, system availability, and cost-effectiveness.
Areas in the railway network have already been indicated by FGC, where high-end geotechnical sensors collecting various types of data have been installed by Worldsensing. All data will be processed by anomaly detection modules in combination with historical data to identify potential alerts in rail tracks and key distributed assets. During the testing phase, a wide range of simulated cyber and physical attacks will be deployed to jeopardise the IT infrastructure. These attacks will serve for assessing the robustness of the connectivity management tool. Once the anomalies are identified, workers or autonomous mechanisms will be activated for an appropriate response.
The integration of IoT in the railway sector gives a huge potential for enhancing safety, efficiency, and passenger experience. However, it also introduces significant cybersecurity challenges that must be addressed to protect critical infrastructure and data. By adopting a proactive approach to cybersecurity, including robust endpoint security, continuous monitoring, and user behaviour analysis, railway operators can mitigate these risks effectively. The Phoeni2x railway use case exemplifies how next-generation services and a layered security strategy can create a resilient and secure IoT-enabled railway system, setting a benchmark for the industry. Ensuring cybersecurity is not just a technological imperative but a fundamental requirement for the continued growth and trust in IoT applications in the railway sector and beyond.