Siemens Smart Infrastructure has launched a new Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service designed to enhance cyber resilience for energy suppliers and operators in energy-intensive industries and critical infrastructures such as data centers and airports.
With the increasing convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), companies face challenges managing a growing influx of security alerts, often without the requisite staffing or expertise available 24/7.
Analysis of Potential Incidents
Siemens' MDR service aims to address these challenges by enabling companies to securely operate their digitalized systems in compliance with the NIS 2 EU legislation on cybersecurity. The service offers significant cost reductions, lowering investment costs by up to 80% compared to establishing an in-house Security Operations Center (SOC) and reducing ongoing cyber defense costs by up to 50% through a scalable, NIS 2-compliant service model.
The service offers significant cost reductions, lowering investment costs by up to 80%
The service ensures round-the-clock protection through monitoring, incident analysis, and action recommendations, delivering up to 90% faster defense against cyber threats. It begins with the collection of security-related data from the customer's IT and OT systems, which is securely transmitted to the SOC for further analysis.
Proactive Threat Detection
The MDR service's primary function involves alarm assessment and incident handling: incoming events are analyzed, classified, and prioritized, ranging from false alarms to critical incidents. Customers receive tailored mitigation and resolution recommendations. To foster proactive threat detection, detection rules are continuously refined and adapted to new threat landscapes. Stephan May, CEO of Electrification and Automation at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, stated, "Today, energy security is inextricably linked to cybersecurity. This is precisely where we offer our customers crucial support.”
He further emphasized that the service combines technology with the expertise of OT specialists, allowing operators of critical infrastructure to focus on their primary operations while Siemens manages their cybersecurity, facilitating a secure digital transformation and accelerating the energy transition.
Safeguarding Operational Systems
Hertener Stadtwerke, a municipal utility in Germany, is among the first to leverage this comprehensive protection to safeguard its operational systems. Stefan Burkert, Head of Communications Technology at Hertener Stadtwerke, commented, “The requirements for cybersecurity, especially for critical infrastructures like ours, are constantly increasing. The MDR service from Siemens is a crucial building block for us to meet these requirements and protect our critical infrastructure.”
By adhering to the Charter of Trust's principles, Siemens' MDR service provides high-level cybersecurity, assisting operators of critical infrastructures worldwide in advancing their digital transformation securely and cost-effectively. The Charter of Trust, initiated by Siemens, advocates for binding cybersecurity rules and standards to build trust and push forward digitalization.
With its new Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service, Siemens Smart Infrastructure is strengthening cyber resilience for energy suppliers and operators of energy-intensive industries and critical infrastructures like data centres and airports.
As information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) continue to converge, companies are being challenged to manage a growing flood of security alerts. They often lack the required staffing with the appropriate expertise and 24/7 availability.
Analysis of potential incidents
The new service from Siemens addresses this gap and helps companies operate their increasingly digitalised systems securely, in compliance with NIS 2 EU-wide legislation concerning cybersecurity and from a single source of trust. Compared to setting up in-house 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC), Siemens' MDR service reduces investment costs by up to 80 percent. Ongoing operating costs for cyber defense are reduced by up to 50 percent through a predictable and scalable service model that is NIS 2-compliant.
The MDR service provides 24/7 protection through monitoring, analysis of potential incidents, and recommendations for action. This enables up to 90 percent faster defense against cyber threats. The process begins with collecting security-related data from the customer’s IT and OT systems, which is securely transmitted to the Security Operations Center (SOC).
Proactive threat detection
The core task is alarm assessment and incident handling: Incoming events are analyzed, classified, and prioritised from false alarms to critical incidents. Based on this, the customer receives specific recommendations for mitigation and resolution. To ensure smart and proactive threat detection, the detection rules are continuously maintained, expanded, and adapted to new threat landscapes.
“Today, energy security is inextricably linked to cybersecurity. This is precisely where we offer our customers crucial support,” said Stephan May, CEO of Electrification and Automation at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “Our MDR service combines technology with the expertise of our OT specialists. This allows operators of critical infrastructure to focus on their core business while we protect their systems from cyberattacks. This is the only way we can securely advance the digital transformation and help accelerate the energy transition.”
Safeguarding operational systems
One of the first companies to benefit from this comprehensive protection is Hertener Stadtwerke, a municipal utility in Germany. It is already using the new MDR service to safeguard its operational systems.
“The requirements for cybersecurity, especially for critical infrastructures like ours, are constantly increasing,” said Stefan Burkert, Head of Communications Technology at Hertener Stadtwerke. “The MDR service from Siemens is a crucial building block for us to meet these requirements and protect our critical infrastructure. It helps us comply with regulations and gives us peace of mind knowing that our systems are monitored by experts at all times. It allows us to focus on ensuring a reliable energy supply.”
The MDR service provides the highest level of cybersecurity in accordance with the principles of the Charter of Trust. Siemens thereby helps operators of critical infrastructure worldwide to drive their digital transformation forward in a secure, scalable, and cost-effective manner. Initiated by Siemens, the Charter of Trust calls for binding rules and standards to build trust in cybersecurity and further advance digitalisation.
