Cybersecurity should be integrated with smart city planning — Cyfirma
Cybersecurity firm Cyfirma is encouraging Filipino urban planners to integrate cybersecurity in smart city blueprints to avoid potential attacks on the operational technology and infrastructure of these cities.
In an interview with Philippine News Agency, Cyfirma President for Delivery and Operations Saurabh Lal said that this is a critical step to look into while in the designing stage and not later on.
He explained, “If I can attack the operational technology infrastructure of the smart city and just change the chemical composition of water being supplied. Imagine the impact it can [have] if I can basically go and tinker around with [the] health data of the overall population.
The tech expert added, “Imagine that sitting far away, I bring down the ATM networks or bring down the electricity grid. That is why cybersecurity considerations are real because of the external threat landscape.”
Lal added that with the rise of smart cities, the public and private sectors in the Philippines have to consider investing in cybersecurity that will look into internal and external threats.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) cited seven smart city projects in the country — including the New Clark City project in Pampanga.
