Cyberattacks: Mastrapasqua says, ‘Older systems are the most vulnerable; we need to focus more on cybersecurity’
Mastrapasqua, president of Assocold: “Remote monitoring helps to mitigate these risks, but we need to raise the bar across retail networks”
‘Remote monitoring of refrigerated display cabinets is not the problem. In fact, to a large extent, it is the solution, precisely to prevent such attacks. These attacks are facilitated in this case by IP access points in the retail outlets’ networks that are not adequately secured.’
According to Francesco Mastrapasqua, president of Assocold, an association representing companies operating in the refrigeration sector (with a turnover of 2 billion and 9,000 employees), the cyber-attacks carried out along the cold chain in several European countries – and, to a lesser extent, in Italia too – must prompt us to be more vigilant regarding the resilience of downstream infrastructure, without, however, taking a step backwards in the adoption of new technologies.
In your opinion, what was the vulnerability that allowed the hackers to cause damage to the shops?
An industrial refrigeration system consists of several components in addition to the machine itself, strictly speaking. These include the electronics that enable it to operate and the retail outlet’s network infrastructure. It is here, as far as we can tell, that the hackers gained access. Remote monitoring is therefore not a risk but an ally in combating such incidents; it is the most effective measure for preventing attacks because it allows for real-time monitoring of parameters. And if a parameter goes out of range – say, to 50 degrees – you notice it straight away.
What can be done to prevent similar incidents in the future?
