iconsys launches dedicated industrial cyber security solution
A leading control and automation specialist has reinforced its commitment to becoming a full industrial lifecycle partner by introducing a dedicated cyber security offer.
iconsys, which has delivered over 5,000 automation projects across heavy industry, marine, offshore and advanced manufacturing, is helping new and existing clients protect their operational technology (OT) environments and production facilities from the threat of downtime and financial exposure caused by increasing cyber-attacks.
The Telford-based company’s ‘GUARD’ solution has been designed to offer a five-stage approach for manufacturers looking to protect their automation and operational equipment, starting with initial consultation and assessment, through to protection, training and ongoing resilience.
In order to deliver a single-source service, it has signed agreements with leaders in the Cyber space, including OPSWAT and Rhelative to deliver industry-leading cyber software support and risk assessment respectively.
Leandro Gasparini, Director of Services at iconsys, commented: “Last year, we saw the devastating financial impact and economic shock that cyber security attacks can have on business. Worryingly, threat actors are getting braver and widening their net to focus on businesses of all sizes.
“Strengthening industrial resilience is a growing priority, yet few management teams know where to start or have the in-house capability.”
He continued: “This is where we come in. We have listened and responded by launching a solution that covers all industrial systems, automation and operational technology.
“The integrated service safeguards critical assets, ensures regulatory compliance and gives confidence to customers, suppliers and stakeholders that their businesses are cyber secure.
“Several production facilities have already signed up to this new offer and we expect to recruit further internal specialists to help us grow this service over the next twelve months.”
Approaching its 40th year in business, iconsys has evolved from an automation and control specialist into a business delivering full lifecycle industrial automation support for customers, from pre-FEED, design and integration through to installation, commissioning, ongoing service support and optimisation reviews.
Investment in its £3m smart factory in Shropshire has given it the platform to introduce a range of new consultancy services, including functional safety, site assessments and a new OT cyber security solution.
The company has leveraged decades of expertise to develop and deploy its GUARD cyber security framework, a solution developed specifically for industrial environments where uptime, safety and legacy system integration present unique challenges compared to traditional IT networks.
This starts with comprehensive audits, vulnerability analysis and network assessment, which leads into tailored security roadmaps that are aligned with IEC 62443, ISO 27001 and emerging UK and EU regulatory requirements.
From there, iconsys experts will secure architecture design, threat detection and access control implementation across all operational technology, with client’s receiving training on how to deal with incident response.
The final element is delivering ongoing resilience through recovery support, managed cyber services and continual best practice deployment.
Leandro continued: “Regulation around cyber security is tightening, especially if you’re selling overseas. NIS2 Directive is exerting supply chain pressure, and this will be exacerbated when the EU Cyber Resilience Act comes into force in December 2027.
“The UK is expected to follow suit by publishing its UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill shortly, creating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape for industrial operators and their supply chains.
“Taking advantage of our new offer means we’ll ensure your operations are compliant with existing and new legislation being introduced, leaving you free to concentrate on day-to-day activities.”
Nick Darrall, Managing Director of iconsys, concluded: “By combining deep industrial expertise with proven OT cyber capability, we are removing complexity from what is often a fragmented and high-risk process.
“It underlines our move towards becoming a strategic full lifecycle partner that delivers security, reliability and operational resilience across your entire industrial operation.”
