Page 23: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jan/Feb 2013)

22 24

Perspectives Analysis

Cyber war opens new front and Shamoon also now security. The glaring experts say virus attacks

Increased automation have to come to grips with lack of security comes have led to electronic offshore means oil & the possibility of a targeted on the heels of major equipment becoming gas companies have far attack in the offshore oil companies such as unstable, and while more systems that are environment. ConocoPhillips, Marathon, personnel undergo vulnerable to computer With increasing Chevron and Baker Hughes scenario training to reduce viruses. Gregory Hale connections between continuing their struggle risks, such training is and Richard Sale onshore and offshore against increasingly seldom employed in investigate how onshore networks, the chances sophisticated cyber the ? eld of information attacks have led of cyber attack increase attacks. These companies security.

companies to reassess dramatically. also were infected by the This becomes especially Experts say oil Stuxnet virus that has dangerous with the security concerns.

companies have improved attacked computers in current trend of increased

Major oil companies, offshore safety in the wake countries from Germany, automation, which already under extreme of Macondo, but they have Indonesia to Kazakhstan. leaves equipment more

M pressure from computer been slow to implement In the offshore exposed to attack. Ludolf viruses such as Stuxnet more stringent information environment, several Luehmann, manager of IT oedigital.com January 2013 | OE 25 oe_analysis.indd 25 03/01/2013 13:25