Critically Neglected: Cybersecurity for buildings

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Presented at DEF CON 33 by

Buildings are largely overlooked when it comes to cyber security. The onus is typically placed on physically securing the building and the people inside of them. What most gloss over is the fact that industrial control systems run these buildings and without them, every day functions become unavailable and downright dangerous. The dangers are growing as buildings become more "connected" and require internet access to operate (ex. sustainability and IoT). Malicious use of engineering protocols (Modbus, Fox, BACNet) and targeted attacks against BAS systems are growing (ex. KNXLock).” Environments run the gamut from overly secure, to the point of crippling, all the way to leaving RDP exposed with no logging or MFA to critical systems. There is no easy fix, properties must invest in technology and people to create a defensible environment. This presentation will show how cyber security can be enabled which fits with the business's operations and minimal disruption. Building types are not constrained to only office space. Properties come in all varieties from warehouses and manufacturing spaces to data centers and shopping malls. All of this needs to be taken into account when assessing the environment and recommending tools and procedures. This talk will cover common architectures seen, typical control systems found in buildings (BMS, FLS, elevator, lighting, power...), reproducible steps to help companies/users understand their vulnerabilities and how we, as an industry, move forward. For the most part, these are not technical problems, but a literal gap that needs to be addressed directly by budgetary and policy controls. The industry is pushing for cybersecurity budgeting, standards and visibility for properties, which are largely ignored or misunderstood by owners and operators. This is a solvable problem and I want attendees to feel empowered to ask tough questions and be prepared to have an educated conversation about the risks and not use fear mongering or scare tactics to get cybersecurity put in place.