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Cybersecurity Month highlights the essential role of cybersecurity in safeguarding digital infrastructures. The focus is on raising awareness about the vulnerabilities that exist within building automation and IoT systems and promoting best practices to mitigate these risks.
For building management and data systems, this is particularly important as buildings become smarter and more interconnected. In this guest blog from Blackstone Energy Services, we explore the ‘Secure by Design’ approach that underpins FIN Framework and look at how organizations can protect sensitive information, maintain operational integrity, and avoid potentially costly disruptions.
Blackstone Energy is a leader in energy management solutions, offering sophisticated tools like blackPAC™, an innovative distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) platform that consolidates a facility’s energy data into a scalable and user-friendly interface on the web. It is a robust Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) solution for private and public sector facilities, powered by J2 Innovations' FIN Framework. The platform empowers facilities to control, report, and reduce energy costs and carbon emissions through real-time data visualizations and simplified sustainability reporting.
‘Secure by design’ is a comprehensive approach that ensures security is an integral part of a product’s lifecycle from inception to deployment. This method involves embedding security measures right from the design phase rather than as an afterthought.
It encompasses constant testing, enhancements, and evolution to stay ahead of emerging threats. The holistic approach considers four key factors – people, communication, processes, and technology – to maintain robust security. The philosophy includes adhering to international standards like ISO/IEC 62443 and OWASP, ensuring high levels of cybersecurity expertise within the development team, and conducting regular security threat and risk assessments.
The objective is to foresee and mitigate risks, ensuring that the final product is resilient against cyber threats. Additionally, rigorous internal and external security testing, including both manual and automated penetration tests, further ensures that the product meets stringent security criteria.
At Blackstone Energy, we chose J2 Innovations as a partner for developing blackPAC™ DERMS because J2 integrates ‘secure by design’ principles into their FIN Framework. The framework ensures secure operations through several key measures, including end-to-end encryption between clients and servers, encrypted communication with other devices, and role-based authorization. The platform follows best practices, such as SLDAP and SCRAM-SHA-256 authentication, to manage data and application access. Sensitive information is stored in encrypted databases, and action-based auditing tracks system activities.
This integrated approach ensures that our blackPAC™ – underpinned by FIN Framework – is one of the most robust and secure solutions for energy management in buildings and IoT ecosystems available.
Smart buildings, equipped with interconnected systems and IoT devices, present a unique set of cybersecurity challenges. Unlike traditional buildings, smart buildings rely heavily on digital infrastructure to manage everything from utility meters, HVAC systems to lighting controls. This interconnectedness, while beneficial for efficiency and convenience, also creates multiple entry points for cyberattacks. Hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in one system to gain access to others, potentially compromising the entire building's operations. This creates a single entry point for cyber-attacks to gain access to multiple subsystems’ data control.
The complexity of these systems adds another layer of difficulty. With various devices and software components, potentially from different manufacturers, ensuring seamless integration and security across the board is challenging. Each component may have its own security standards, making it tough to maintain a cohesive defence strategy. Additionally, the constant evolution of cyber threats means that what was secure yesterday might not be secure today. This dynamic threat landscape requires continuous monitoring and updating of security protocols to protect against new vulnerabilities.
Blackstone benefits significantly from the ‘secure by design’ approach. From the outset, we gained access to a secure, scalable, and interoperable platform that enhances blackPAC™’s offerings.
The robust security measures embedded within FIN Framework ensure that our clients’ energy information and data systems are well-protected against cyber threats. Additionally, the continuous software maintenance program provides regular updates and patches, keeping our systems up to date with the latest security enhancements.
By following the hardening guidelines and participating in regular security assessments, we are providing ongoing oversight of a secure product. This not only enhances the trust and satisfaction of our customers but also reinforces our reputation as a provider of secure and reliable solutions.
Furthermore, in the event of any security issues, the incident and vulnerability handling processes ensure swift identification and mitigation and minimizing potential impacts.
To further bolster security, the FIN Framework supports hardware and software firewalls in blackPAC™ and uses the least privilege principle to limit data and application access. Sensitive information is stored in encrypted databases, and third-party components are rigorously verified to maintain high-security standards. Regular software maintenance, including patches and updates, addresses new vulnerabilities and enhances the framework's resilience against emerging threats.
The FIN Framework also provides comprehensive cybersecurity deployment guidelines for our IoT deployments. These guidelines outline best practices for configuring and operating the system securely, ensuring that it can withstand cyberattacks in its intended environment. Emergency management processes are in place to handle vulnerabilities promptly, with the ProductCERT team issuing advisories to keep users informed.
In essence, the partnership with J2 Innovations allows companies like Blackstone Energy to deliver cutting-edge, secure BMS products, bolstering our market position and customer confidence.
In an era where smart buildings and IoT solutions are becoming the norm, designing these solutions with cybersecurity as a foundational element is crucial. A holistic approach to security considers people, communication, processes, and technology. By doing so, it addresses not just the immediate threats but also anticipates future challenges.
Our investment in FIN Framework for blackPAC™ has been a game-changer to mitigate risk for our products and customers.
Joanna is a Chartered Marketer passionate about sustainability and well-being. She is a highly qualified professional with a double Master's Degree in Global Business Management and Marketing. She joined J2 Innovations in 2022 with extensive experience working with startups, small businesses, and corporate environments. Alongside the business focus on growth, strategy, and financial stability, her passion leads her to work with businesses that make a positive impact locally and environmentally. She is also actively involved in promoting sustainability & green initiatives.
Topics from this blog: Cybersecurity OEM Smart Buildings Energy management FIN Framework Building Automation System BAS
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