August 30th, 2024
Enhancing Cybersecurity in Offshore Drilling
Aquila’s Comprehensive Approach to Safeguarding Oil and Gas Operations
Securing the Future of Offshore Drilling: Aquila's Cutting-Edge Cyber Defense
In the high-stakes world of offshore drilling, cybersecurity is more than just a technical requirement—it's a critical part of operational safety, reliability, and efficiency. As digital control systems become increasingly sophisticated, protecting your oil rig’s infrastructure against cyber threats has never been more crucial.
Aquila Engineering understands the unique challenges of industrial cybersecurity and offers specialized services designed to protect offshore drilling operations from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
Why Cybersecurity Matters in Offshore Drilling
Offshore oil rigs are prime targets for cyberattacks due to their remote locations and heavy reliance on interconnected digital control systems. A single breach can result in significant operational disruptions, financial losses, and safety hazards.
For instance, in 2020, a major oil company fell victim to a ransomware attack that compromised its operational technology and halted production and costly recovery efforts.
Similarly, another energy provider faced a sophisticated phishing attack that granted unauthorized access to sensitive data, highlighting the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures.
Aquila Engineering’s Comprehensive Cybersecurity Services
Aquila Engineering is committed to protecting offshore drilling operations through a comprehensive approach that encompasses risk assessments, network security, continuous monitoring, and training.
Our services are customized and designed to fit your environment and risk appetite, while ensuring that you meet the stringent requirements of industry standards such as IEC/ISA 62443-3-2 and the NIST Risk Management Framework, ensuring that your operations are secure, reliable, and compliant.
Survey and Assessment
Asset Inventory
We begin by conducting a thorough survey of all assets within your Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) by grouping and categorizing them into zones. This includes creating detailed logical and physical network diagrams for each zone, data flow diagrams within each zone, and comprehensive asset records. By mapping out these critical components, we establish a clear understanding of your existing infrastructure and identify potential vulnerabilities.
Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
Our team performs industry-standard IACS cybersecurity risk assessments in line with the guidelines named in ISA/IEC 62443-3-2, which includes mapping out the zones and conduits within your IACS, identifying potential risks and vulnerabilities across your digital infrastructure.
These assessments form the foundation for developing effective mitigation strategies that protect against cyber threats. We then provide a detailed report outlining our findings and recommendations, helping you understand your tolerable risk levels and implement necessary changes to mitigate identified risks.
Network Security Assessment
Aquila Engineering evaluates the security of data flows between the business systems and IACS systems, as well as safety-related zones and non-safety-related zones This assessment ensures that all data is securely transmitted and protected from unauthorized access, preventing potential breaches that could disrupt operations.
Implementation and Monitoring
Vulnerability Assessment
To ensure the highest level of security, we perform passive vulnerability assessments that find potential weaknesses without disrupting live operations. This proactive approach enables us to address vulnerabilities and mitigate risks early, safeguarding your oil rig's safety and efficiency before any issues can arise.
Our process involves reviewing the rig's history to identify potential threats and conducting a thorough vulnerability assessment to uncover weaknesses. We then analyze the potential consequences and the likelihood of these threats exploiting the vulnerabilities, allowing us to calculate a comprehensive risk value that informs our security measures.
Continuous Monitoring
In the face of dynamic cyber threats, continuous monitoring is essential. Aquila Engineering offers 24/7 monitoring services that detect and respond to potential threats in real time. Our advanced tools and expertise enable us to swiftly find anomalies, preventing security incidents and ensuring uninterrupted operations.
Training and Awareness
Cybersecurity Training
Aquila Engineering offers cybersecurity awareness training for all personnel, including third parties interacting with your IACS. This training ensures that everyone involved understands the importance of cybersecurity and is equipped with the knowledge to maintain secure operations.
Ensuring Secure Offshore Operations
In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, safeguarding offshore drilling operations is not just important- it's essential. Aquila Engineering’s cyber team stands at the forefront of this mission, offering expert-led cybersecurity services- encompassing everything from asset inventory and risk assessment to continuous monitoring and comprehensive training.
Our Cyber team's expertise ensures that your operations are not only protected from current and emerging threats but also fully compliant with industry standards. By partnering with Aquila Engineering, you can trust that your oil rig's critical infrastructure is in the hands of seasoned professionals, guaranteeing security, reliability, and efficiency in every aspect of your operations.