As vacation season ends and we leave behind blue waters, cold mountain air, and colorful foreign dishes, we also return to a new kind of awareness: sensing with artificial intelligence, detecting cyber threats, and anticipating maintenance.

Digitalization in the pipeline sector enhances asset management and operations. Real-time data analytics and remote monitoring improve safety, efficiency, and streamline operations. This proactive approach reduces downtime, increases profitability, and extends asset lifespan.

However, this digital transformation also exposes the pipeline industry to cyber threats. As connectivity and data exchange become more prevalent, the risk of cyber attacks increases significantly. One of the papers you will find in today’s issue will cover hazard based protection of gas infrastructure facilities against cyber-physical attacks.

Protecting sensitive information, infrastructure, and operational systems from unauthorized access and potential disruptions is of paramount importance. To prevent incidents like the attack on the Colonial Pipeline in 2021 extorting the payment of 4.4.mio. USD, robust cybersecurity measures, including encryption, firewalls, and regular vulnerability assessments, are essential to safeguarding the integrity and reliability of digitalized pipelines. Two key risk factors in the whole oil and gas sector are availability and security, cyber threats affect both matters.

The next pages will cover, amongst others,  AI techniques for third-party interference and advice on selecting the right leak detection methods to meet legal and operational requirements.

The pipeline sector is on the brink of a digital revolution. Embracing digitalization offers great opportunities, but also introduces cyber risks. By navigating these challenges, the industry can leverage digital technologies while ensuring operational safety.

Sincerely Yours,

Julia Möller
Head of Sales – Chemical Industry
Siemens AG