Industrial Cybersecurity, Process Safety and Human Factors: A Comprehensive 360-Degree Approach

Abstract With Industry 4.0 bringing new digital technologies that add significant value to the Oil and Gas business, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud computing, remote monitoring and control, and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), it becomes necessary to revisit the Automation Architecture of the industrial chemical plants to ensure that cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the system are not created that could potentially compromise personal, property, environmental safety and operational availability. To this end, it is essential to have an integrated safety-security vision developed, implemented, and properly monitored. This article presents an integrated view of three key areas of knowledge that are typically addressed individually: cybersecurity, process safety, and human factors – from the perspective of cybersecurity. It maps the processes at the two cybersecurity interfaces and dives into the IT and OT dimensions during the phases of a project: engineering design, procurement, construction & assembly, commissioning and operation. Finally, it proposes a strategy for implementing this approach in the oil and gas industry and suggests a roadmap to make it practical and useful in the industry.