"Researchers Looking Into Cybersecurity of Canada's Power, IoT Sectors"

Researchers at a Quebec university are looking into how prepared power utilities are for cyberattacks, as well as the security of wireless industrial Internet-connected devices. Ottawa recently announced that it gave the University of Sherbrooke the second half of just under $2 million for the study. One project is evaluating the resiliency of Hydro Sherbrooke, a medium-sized power distributor, in the context of Industry 4.0, specifically its ability to detect new threats. Industry 4.0 refers to the incorporation of new technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, cloud computing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into a company's production centers and general operations. The second project analyzes the security of industrial IoT devices with 5G connectivity and edge computing. It involves exploring the applications of the devices in agriculture, water management, and building management. Bell Canada, VMware, Honeywell, and the cities of Sherbrooke and Magog, Quebec, are partners in this study. Lessons learned from both projects will be shared with the power, telecommunications, and Information Technology (IT) manufacturing industries. This article continues to discuss the new projects investigating the readiness of power utilities to face cyberattacks and the security of wireless industrial Internet-connected devices.

IT World Canada reports "Researchers Looking Into Cybersecurity of Canada's Power, IoT Sectors"