The critical role that cyber security plays in protecting our planet

Cyber security solutions are the silent safeguard of our society, ensuring the smooth operation of economies, businesses, and critical infrastructure that keep the world running. While we often associate these solutions with protecting against data breaches and cyber attacks, one aspect that remains relatively under the radar is the extent to which they also secure our planet’s sustainable future as a whole. From monitoring environmental changes and predicting natural disasters to protecting satellite systems that track asteroids, cyber security plays a pivotal role in keeping us safe from potential catastrophes. It’s this unseen yet crucial aspect of cyber  security that we explore in this blog post, shedding light on its significance beyond just safeguarding digital assets.

As we mark Earth Day this year, I’d like to reflect on how cyber security solutions have evolved and played a pivotal role in securing life on Earth. 

Cyber security as The Guardian of Our Planet

Cyber security has come a long way from its early days of simple virus protection. Today, it encompasses a broad range of technologies and strategies designed to protect networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access and cyber threats. As our reliance on digital technology has grown, so too has the importance of cyber security in safeguarding critical infrastructure, including those vital to our societal, environmental and overall planetary well-being.

One of the most significant areas where cyber security intersects with environmental protection is in the monitoring and management of satellite systems. Satellites play a crucial role in tracking environmental changes, predicting natural disasters, and even detecting asteroids that could pose a threat to our planet. However, these satellites are vulnerable to cyber attacks that could disrupt their functionality or manipulate their data.

A notable case study is the 2019 incident involving the European Space Agency’s Aeolus satellite, which plays a crucial role in gathering data for climate research and weather forecasting. Cyber attackers attempted to gain control of the satellite’s communication systems, aiming to disrupt its data transmission and potentially compromise the accuracy of crucial environmental data. Thankfully, the attack was detected and mitigated in time, preventing any damage to the satellite’s operations and ensuring the continued reliability of its vital environmental monitoring functions.

This successful detection and mitigation of the attack on the Aeolus satellite underscores the critical importance of cyber security measures in protecting our planet, highlighting the need for vigilant and robust defenses to safeguard the data that informs our understanding of Earth’s changing climate.

How Cyber security Factors into Environmental Protection

The buck doesn’t stop there when it comes to the critical role that cyber security plays in securing our planet. For instance, cyber security infrastructure could be essential in protecting satellite systems used for tracking and predicting the paths of asteroids headed towards Earth.

Another instance is the protection of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, which are crucial for monitoring and controlling industrial processes, including those in the energy sector. A cyber attack on these systems could result in environmental disasters, such as oil spills or nuclear accidents in the worst case, or, similar to the case of the wide-reaching Viasat hack, result in critical malfunctions in the operation of renewable energy infrastructure.

Indeed, we are proud of the fact that Check Point’s cyber security solutions are pivotal in protecting such advanced and essential SCADA systems from such threats, thereby safeguarding our environment from potential harm, while ensuring the steady generation of climate-friendly renewable energy sources.

Cyber Security as a Smart Solution

The emergence of smart cities, smart buildings, smart transportation and even smart health signifies a leap towards a more efficient, sustainable, and interconnected environments. These advancements integrate various services, from traffic and emergency management in urban settings to global shipping coordination and remote healthcare, through digital platforms. They rely heavily on real-time data exchange and interconnected networks to improve living standards, streamline transportation, enhance energy conservation, and offer advanced medical care remotely. However, the backbone of these systems is their cyber security measures, which ensure the reliability and safety of these critical services.

Recent cyber incidents, such as the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and the SolarWinds hack, underscore the vulnerabilities that come with increased connectivity. These events demonstrate the potential chaos and severe repercussions that cyber attacks can have on national security, economic stability, and public safety. Cyber security is not merely a technical necessity but a critical infrastructure requirement that protects essential services and sensitive information across sectors including healthcare, energy, finance, and government.

A Secure and Sustainable Future is Essential

As we celebrate Earth Day, we also recognize the integral role that cyber security plays in ensuring a long and sustainable future. The development of cyber security solutions, as demonstrated by Check Point’s technologies, has been crucial in safeguarding critical infrastructure that prevent against potentially large-scale environmental catastrophes, while ensuring the sustainability of our digital and physical worlds. It is a testament to the fact that in our interconnected world, securing our digital realm is inseparable from securing our Earth.

However, Check Point’s responsibility goes beyond its commitment to securing our environment and society. As the company’s ESG Manager, I am proud of the commitments we have made to conducting our business responsibly and sustainably. Check Point has set the notable goal of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2040, and we monitor our carbon emissions, while committing to improving the environmental performance of our future generation of products. In addition, Check Point also embraces the need for more environmentally- friendly products for the betterment of the planet.

Furthermore, by fostering an inclusive, diverse and supportive workplace, the company functions as an island of stability in an ever-changing world. The full scope of our commitments is outlined in our 2022 ESG Report, and we look forward to sharing our 2023 ESG Update in the coming months.

Finally, it is important to remember that our planet is the only home that we have. At Check Point, we will continue to work diligently to shape a future where technology and sustainability go hand in hand, with the hope that we can play our part in shaping a secure and sustainable world for generations to come.