OT/ICS Cybersecurity: The next big target of Pakistan

President Arif Alvi, the President of Pakistan, opened the nation's first-ever Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity Conference (OTCSEC) held at Marriot hotel on Thursday by ACET Solutions, a leading provider of automation and cybersecurity solutions for critical infrastructure companies. 

The event featured experts from the world's largest cybersecurity technology vendors, including Fortinet, who emphasized the need for Pakistan to secure its OT/Industrial Control (IC) Systems, which are responsible for controlling physical equipment in electricity grids, water plants, oil & gas plants, mining, manufacturing, transportation, and other critical infrastructure or industries.

In his virtual keynote address, President Alvi underlined the significance of cybersecurity as a national priority for the survival of the nation. He highlighted the need to invest in skills and young people to safeguard the civilization. "Cybersecurity is a national priority, for the survival of the nation, and we must invest in the skills and young people to protect our civilization,” he said.

Sharing the example of Ukraine war and the patrol supplied jammed in U.S East Coast by attacking the devices explained the importance of this OT/ICS Cybersecurity Conference.

This conference, a first of its kind in Pakistan, targeted the critical infrastructure owners and operators, and brought together industrial clients, experts, and policymakers to discuss and address the challenges of OT/ICS cybersecurity. The objective of the conference was to provide a platform for stakeholders to share their knowledge, experiences, best practices, and solutions for improving the security of critical infrastructure in Pakistan.

The conference provided a platform for the industrial vendors to showcase their products and services related to OT security. This helped to promote the development of a local ecosystem for OT security in Pakistan, which can drive innovation, create jobs, and spur economic growth.

The conference came at a crucial time for Pakistan, following the nationwide electricity blackout in January that was believed to be an attack by a foreign hacking group. The incident underscored the vulnerability of Pakistan's critical infrastructure and the need to invest in OT/ICS cybersecurity. The President and various speakers at the conference cited this as a wake-up call for the country to take urgent measures to secure its OT/ICS systems.

Tauseef Farooqi, Chairman of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, "NEPRA'S OT/IT Cybersecurity regulation 2022, must be applied by all power sector companies in 2023". He stressed that the regulation would help Pakistan's power sector companies become more resilient to cyber-attacks, reduce operational downtime, and prevent losses.
Fahad Faisal, Fortinet BDM, Middle East, expressed support for Pakistan's growth in cybersecurity resilience, highlighting the role of the private sector in advancing OT/ICS cybersecurity. He emphasized the need for public-private partnerships to drive innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity solutions.
Mubarik Mustafa, CEO of ACET Solutions, reiterated the company's commitment to supporting Pakistan's journey in protecting critical infrastructure as the largest OT Security services company in the region. ACET Solutions provides automation, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology integration for some of the world's largest OT/ICS companies.

Pakistan's first-ever OT/ICS Cybersecurity conference organized by ACET Solutions brought together industry experts, policymakers, and thought leaders to address the urgent need for securing critical infrastructure systems. The event underscored the severity of the threat posed by cyber-attacks and highlighted the need for public-private partnerships to develop innovative solutions to address the challenge. The conference is a step towards strengthening Pakistan's cybersecurity resilience and safeguarding its economic growth and national security.

The conference also featured panel discussion on ‘OT Cybersecurity in Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities’, that featured Faisal Amir (CIO, PARCO), Tahir Saleem, (DEWA, Dubai, UAE), Murtaza Lightwala (GM Cybersecurity, KE), Mustafa Jahangir (Sr Manager SOC, PSO), Farhan Badar (Chief Engineer SCADA, SSGC) and was moderated by Kaashif Nawaz.

An OT Cybersecurity Demo (Defence-in-depth) was also given show how a realtime cybersecurity breach happens and is protected? Other topics discussed at the event includes; The OT Security Journey in K-Electric, Importance of OT Cyber Security at National Level, Risk Assessments with ISA/IEC 62443, OT/ICS Cybersecurity: The New Boardroom Imperative, How To Avoid A Big Shutdown, The Importance of National Cybersecurity Frameworks, OT Security: The Next Big Target, and OT Cybersecurity Monitoring Challenges.