The IT provider view: “Understand vulnerability and develop avoidance and mitigation strategies”

Romolo Buonfiglio, Senior Executive, Information Security, Almaviva, presented some perspectives from a railway IT provider.

As a leading IT provider, Almaviva supports passenger and freight transport operators, infrastructure managers, port authorities, local authorities engaged in developing and managing local integrated passenger mobility systems and services, as well as “last mile” logistics providers. In all areas, the key issues remain the same – understanding vulnerability, developing avoidance and mitigation strategies, remaining up to date on new threats and challenges as they emerge.

The cited Gartner report1 shows ~ 7% CAGR spend on Cyber Security. Some case study examples were provided, including mobile fraud as well as methods for intelligence and analytics, each providing examples applicable to railway considerations and highly relevant to the idea of sharing experience and solutions.


1 GARTNER prediction cyber security spend - http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3784965



“CyberSecurity4Rail” Railway Industry Conference - Brussels 4th October 2017

Conference Report

  1. Welcome and overview: “Co-operation is essential in the quest to manage technology and people for security”
  2. Cyber security – don’t be a victim: “Information is power and control of information has unexpected consequences”
  3. The regulators’ view on cyber security: “Multi-modal transport requires data exchange and interconnection”
  4. Security in the SERA – policy considerations: “The need for common understanding, guidelines and best practices”
  5. The Network and Information Security Directive (NIS Directive): “A host of European actions in cyber security”
  6. The railway sector perspective on cyber security: “Integrated approach to security and safety without duplication”
  7. How airlines protect against cyber-attack: “Adversaries are not systems, but people who are smart and who pursue goals”
  8. Secure networks for collaborative services: “Networks are the risk – meshed networks provide a segmented and secure response”
  9. First panel discussion: Product liability, staff training & awareness, information sharing in both safety and security…”
  10. Cyber security and resilience of transport infrastructure: “Current European initiatives in cyber security supporting Rail”
  11. Perspectives from a European railway operator: “Trains as data centres – protecting train IT as a cyber-crime target”
  12. Lessons learned from EU projects SECRET and CYRAIL: “Rail as critical infrastructure requires strong projects to protect it”
  13. Perspectives of a railway infrastructure manager: “Extensive premises, public accessibility – DB managing security risks”
  14. The telecommunications view: “Risk management depends on agility”
  15. The IT provider view: “Understand vulnerability and develop avoidance and mitigation strategies”
  16. Second panel discussion: “The need for co-ordinated action”
  17. Closing keynote address: “Achieving an EURail-ISAC, without replication or over-regulation….”
  18. The Way Forward: “Establishing a European Railway ISAC based on a common understanding”
  19. Annexe - Conference Evaluation Summary – Consensus