Cyber security solutions are the silent safeguard of our society, ensuring the smooth operation of economies, businesses, and critical infrastructure that keep the world running. While we often associate these solutions with protecting against data breaches and cyber attacks, one aspect that remains relatively under the radar is the extent to which they also secure our planet’s sustainable future as a whole.
From monitoring environmental changes and predicting natural disasters to protecting satellite systems that track asteroids, cyber security plays a pivotal role in keeping us safe from potential catastrophes. It’s this unseen yet crucial aspect of cyber security that we explore in this blog post, shedding light on its significance beyond just safeguarding digital assets. As we mark Earth Day this year, I’d like to reflect on how cyber security solutions have evolved and played a pivotal role in securing life on Earth.
Cyber security as The Guardian of Our Planet
Cybersecurity has come a long way from the era of virus protection. Today, it encompasses a broad range of technologies and strategies designed to protect networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access and cyber threats. As our reliance on digital technology has grown, so has the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding critical infrastructure, including those vital to our societal, environmental and overall planetary wellbeing.
One of the most significant areas where cyber security intersects with environmental protection is in the monitoring and management of satellite systems. Satellites play a crucial role in tracking environmental changes, predicting natural disasters, and even detecting asteroids that could pose a threat to our planet. However, these satellites are vulnerable to cyber attacks that could disrupt their functionality or manipulate their data.
Readers would recall the 2019 incident where the European Space Agency’s Aeolus satellite, one which gathers data for climate research and weather forecasting, was the target of cybercriminals who sought to gain control of the communication systems to disrupt its data transmission and potentially compromise the accuracy of crucial environmental data. That the attack was detected and mitigated in time, thus preventing any damage, is crucial.
This attack on the Aeolus satellite underscores the critical importance of cyber security measures in protecting our planet, highlighting the need for vigilant and robust defenses to safeguard the data that informs our understanding of Earth’s changing climate.
How Cyber security Factors into Environmental Protection
The buck doesn’t stop there when it comes to the critical role that cyber security plays in securing our planet. For instance, cyber security infrastructure could be essential in protecting satellite systems used for tracking and predicting the paths of asteroids headed towards Earth.
Another instance is the protection of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, which are crucial for monitoring and controlling industrial processes, including those in the energy sector. A cyber attack on these systems could result in environmental disasters, such as oil spills or nuclear accidents in the worst case, or, similar to the case of the wide-reaching Viasat hack, result in critical malfunctions in the operation of renewable energy infrastructure.
Indeed, we are proud of the fact that Check Point’s cyber security solutions are pivotal in protecting such advanced and essential SCADA systems from such threats, thereby safeguarding our environment from potential harm, while ensuring the steady generation of climate-friendly renewable energy sources.
Cyber Security as a Smart Solution
The emergence of smart cities, smart buildings, smart transportation and even smart health signifies a leap towards a more efficient, sustainable, and interconnected environment. These advancements integrate various services, from traffic and emergency management in urban settings to global shipping coordination and remote healthcare, through digital platforms. They rely heavily on real-time data exchange and interconnected networks to improve living standards, streamline transportation, enhance energy conservation, and offer advanced medical care remotely. However, the backbone of these systems is their cyber security measures, which ensure the reliability and safety of these critical services.
Recent cyber incidents, such as the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and the SolarWinds hack, underscore the vulnerabilities that come with increased connectivity. These events demonstrate the potential chaos and severe repercussions that cyber attacks can have on national security, economic stability, and public safety. Cyber security is not merely a technical necessity but a critical infrastructure requirement that protects essential services and sensitive information across sectors including healthcare, energy, finance, and government.
A Secure and Sustainable Future is Essential
As we celebrate Earth Day, we must recognise the integral role that cybersecurity plays in ensuring a long and sustainable future. The development of cybersecurity solutions has been crucial in safeguarding critical infrastructure that prevent potentially large-scale environmental catastrophes, while ensuring the sustainability of our digital and physical worlds. It is a testament to the fact that in our interconnected world, securing our digital realm is inseparable from securing our Earth.
At CheckPoint, we have conducted our business responsibly and sustainably, setting the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. We monitor our carbon emissions, while committing to improving the environmental performance of our future generation of products. In addition, Check Point also embraces the need for more environmentally- friendly products for the betterment of the planet.
Finally, it is important to remember that our planet is the only home that we have. At CheckPoint, we will continue to work diligently to shape a future where technology and sustainability go hand in hand, with the hope that we can play our part in shaping a secure and sustainable world for generations to come.
(Disclaimer: The author works as ESG Manager with Check Point Software Technologies and the views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication or its owners and operators.)
