Over the past five years, the mining and metals industry has undergone a massive digital transformation. From exploration to extraction, advanced technologies like deep automation, robotics and artificial intelligence are improving operational efficiency, enhancing capability, reducing costs and increasing value at all stages of the mining lifecycle to gain a competitive advantage. However, this technology revolution is also exposing companies to new risks that can severely disrupt operations.
It’s no surprise that cyber threats are evolving and escalating at an alarming rate in the mining and metals and other asset-intensive industries. Understanding the current cyber risk landscape and the threats new technologies bring is crucial for planning reliable and resilient operations. From its geopolitical nature to the life-and-death consequences of operation system malfunctions: mining and metals companies are teeming with cyber vulnerabilities. Sophisticated criminals may be ready to hit a company’s reputation, health and safety protocols, environmental stewardship and profitability.
In an age when threats are being unearthed every day, mining companies should account for the following five imperatives when thinking about cybersecurity in their operations to build a cyber risk-based approach that improves business resilience and unlocks the true value of transformation.
1. Understand your risk appetite and tolerance and where your company stands
Risk appetite is the amount of risk an organization is willing to accept to achieve its objectives. Risk tolerance is the acceptable deviation from the organization's risk appetite. More than one third of Canadian organizations haven’t clearly articulated their cybersecurity risk. That’s simply not enough. Defining the cyber risks that are most relevant for your particular organization and building consensus around what level of risk you’ll tolerate is the first step to effective planning.
For the mining and metals industry, a seemingly small disruption — like a hacker shaking up your supply chain or stopping a critical dewatering pump — could have massive, high-profile or even life-altering impacts. You need to know where your risk lies to defend your organization well.