MWM Cyber Security

Comprehensively protect your plant against unauthorized access

Do I need to protect my cogeneration power plant from cyberattacks?

Factors such the advancing digitization in the energy industry and the increased use of cyber-physical systems are associated with a higher risk of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure including cogeneration power plants. The logging and processing of operating data as well as the intervention in the operational process make industrial energy plants with gas engines a potential target for cyberattacks. Such attacks can cause considerable disruptions and interrupt operations.

To ensure the security of your cogeneration power plant, you should implement effective cyber security measures against unauthorized access, malware, and outages. Secure data encryption protects energy plants and their sensitive data from unauthorized access and manipulation, which could result in loss of data or operational interruptions.

What security measures does MWM offer for the remote maintenance and monitoring of my cogeneration power plant?

With its Digital Solutions, MWM offers real-time monitoring of your energy system and remote access. MWM uses encryption and authentication technologies with a virtual private network (VPN) router on the plant side—the remote plant gateway (RPG)—to ensure secure remote maintenance and monitoring of your cogeneration power plant. The RPG automatically establishes a VPN connection to the MWM remote maintenance server, the rendezvous server. Thus, no incoming connections need to be made to the customer and plant network. Remote access is only permitted if it is initiated by an activated client/user on the server. This ensures that data only flows in the direction of the protected servers and that the plant’s network is always in a secure zone. By means of two-factor authentication for role-based access and strict separation (segmentation) of machine networks using network filter technologies (firewall), the system is protected against unauthorized access. Regular maintenance and software updates as well as the use of modern security hardware ensure consistent data security. The general security of the remote system is checked continually by means of regular security tests.

• MWM Digital Solutions: MWM Digital Solutions enable real-time monitoring and operation of energy plants. In this way, technical problems can be identified and eliminated at an early stage, thereby preventing potential outages.
• Services: Services for plant operators include the remote access service with regular maintenance and software updates for consistent data security.
• Plant: The data flow only takes place in the direction of the protected servers. Thus, the plant’s network is always in the secure zone.
• RPG: The encryption takes place by means of a remote plant gateway (RPG). The RPG automatically establishes a VPN connection to the MWM remote maintenance server.
• Internet: The plant data are transmitted digitally to the verified users via encrypted connections.
• User: By means of two-factor user authentication for role-based access and strict separation (segmentation) of machine networks using network filter technologies (firewall), the system is protected against unauthorized access.

What data are transmitted to MWM in the course of the maintenance and monitoring of my cogeneration power plant?

For remote maintenance and monitoring, only data that are necessary for the operation are transmitted, e.g. alerts and telemetry data from the plant. The user data are transmitted to the server and processed there in order to ensure access protection through authentication on the servers. A data privacy agreement concluded between MWM and the plant operator forms the legal basis.

What are the benefits of using MWM Digital Solutions?

MWM enables secure remote access and monitoring of your cogeneration power plant from a single source around the globe on a 24/7 basis. With the standardized security and access concept with two-factor authentication and VPN, you are optimally protected against cyber attacks. Regular maintenance and software updates ensure that the cyber security of your cogeneration power plant is always up to date. Please feel free to contact the MWM Cyber Security team if you have any questions concerning data security or the integration in your environment. Thanks to the in-house training they receive, MWM distributors are skilled in the secure handling of sensitive digital data.

Can I retrofit my existing plant with MWM Digital Solutions?

Yes. For old and existing plants, MWM offers a retrofit kit that enables use of the MWM Digital Solutions for secure remote access and monitoring of your plant.

I would like to protect my cogeneration power plant, whom can I contact?

If you have any questions about cyber security or retrofitting your plant with MWM Digital Solutions, please feel free to get in touch with your competent MWM contact.