To ensure the integrity of corporate data, companies typically spend significant time and money to secure their IT infrastructures against security breaches. As the use of wireless technology for sensing and control systems becomes a more common practice in various industries, security protocols must be considered to prevent malicious attackers from intercepting data and/or intentionally changing its contents.

Attacks on wireless sensing and control networks can cause an unintended system operation, affecting production loss or safety issues. Even information that may seem to pose little risk if not secured can have a major impact on operations. For example, a simple tank level reading may by itself seem unnecessary to protect, but if this data is tampered with it could cause an operation shutdown due to a false high level, or could even cause a spill on false low level readings.

Who’s Responsible for Security?

As critical process and control data are transmitted over large geographic areas covering hundreds of square miles, a series of security checks are necessary to protect data as it passes from point to point. Using data without an integrity check is risky as it can cause unknown actions. Security for the wireless sensor network falls outside of standard IT security applied to the server and user interface and must be evaluated on its own. The wireless network is responsible for protecting its own information.

Companies must ensure that their system vendor secures the wireless sensor network with more than just encryption. Device authentication and replay prevention also are important security features necessary to secure the network.

As no one security standard yet exists in the industry for wireless networks, don’t assume any is implemented or is extensive enough to protect your important data and processes. Data breaches can happen anywhere, even in remote locations unattended by operators for long periods. Ask your provider what security measures are used to protect your data throughout the entire network.

Download the article on Data Security Practices Can Ensure a More Reiable and Secure Wireless Remote Monitoring and Contorl System or read about the security measures that Signal Fire uses to protect its own wireless remote monitoring product line at this link.