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Published in: IT security

Security and Trust in Industry 4.0: The Role of Digital Identities

Security and Trust in Industry 4.0: The Role of Digital Identities

Security and trust in Industry 4.0: the role of digital identities

For sensors, controllers, and machines to function effectively in industrial applications, they must first be deployed. Typically, this process involves a skilled worker manually installing and configuring IoT devices.

However, this approach is time-consuming, costly, and prone to human error, which introduces security risks. Automation of this process has so far been limited, but digital identities along the value chain provide a solution.

What is a Digital Identity?

A digital identity is an electronic proof of authenticity issued and verified by a public key infrastructure (PKI). It cryptographically verifies the identity of a device or entity, ensuring its trustworthiness in digital networks. Applied during the production process, a digital identity establishes a device as a secure communication partner.

In essence, a digital identity is an electronic representation of identity information that authenticates actors and devices. It facilitates secure and verified interactions between devices, applications, and users across interconnected environments.

What are the Components of a Digital Identity?

A secure and reliable digital identity is comprised of the following key components:

Public and Private Keys
A digital certificate includes a public key for encrypting data and a private key for decrypting it. The private key also generates digital signatures, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the certificate.
Digital Signature
Created by a certification authority (CA), the digital signature confirms the certificate’s authenticity. It enables other entities to validate the certificate’s legitimacy using the CA’s public key.
Identity Information
This includes details such as the certificate owner’s name, organization, certification authority, validity period, and other relevant data.

Why does Industry 4.0 need Digital Identities?

Unique Identities
Digital identities uniquely identify machines and products, ensuring that all communication partners are known and trusted.
Industry 4.0

"Industry 4.0 refers to the intelligent networking of machines and processes in industry with the help of information and communication technology." -Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection

Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (2019)
Secure Data Exchange in the IIoT
In the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and critical infrastructures, secure data exchange is essential. Digital identities form the foundation for secure communication between devices, systems, and platforms, maintaining the integrity of transmitted data.
Reliable Operation
In highly networked and automated environments like Industry 4.0, ensuring the reliability and authenticity of all actors is vital. Digital identities provide the necessary safeguards to guarantee smooth operations and mitigate potential risks.
Trust & Efficiency
Digital identities enhance trust in automation processes, improving both security and operational efficiency. By ensuring secure communication across networked devices and systems, they enable companies to fully leverage the benefits of digital transformation.

What are the Challenges in Integrating Digital Identities?

The introduction of digital identities in industrial environments faces a variety of challenges, especially in terms of infrastructure, rollout and management.
Infrastructure
Establishing a private key infrastructure (PKI) tailored to specific operational requirements can be complex. It demands thorough analysis, planning, and configuration of existing infrastructure to securely implement digital identities.
System Integration & Rollout
Many systems lack the interfaces needed for automated certificate deployment, necessitating manual installation. For example, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) often cannot integrate certificates automatically, as they are not centrally managed through tools like Active Directory.
This challenge is further exacerbated by the diverse range of operating systems used in industrial environments, from various Linux distributions to Windows-based platforms, complicating standardization and automation efforts. ​
Certificate Management
Long-term management of digital identities involves regular updates, monitoring, and maintenance. Without effective operational technology (OT) asset management, companies may struggle to maintain and utilize digital identities effectively.

How do Industrial Companies benefit from Digital Identities?

The integration of digital identities into industrial processes is not only important for secure communication within a system, but also opens up a wide range of opportunities for industrial companies.
Improved Competitiveness

Extended Value Proposition

New Business Models

Improved Competitiveness
By integrating hardware-based security, secure authentication, and automated processes, companies can harness the full potential of digital transformation. This strengthens their competitiveness in an increasingly interconnected industrial landscape.
Extended Value Proposition
Manufacturers can expand their offerings by providing not only devices but also secure services. Authentic data, enabled by digital identities, ensures the traceability and authenticity of devices, supports counterfeit prevention, and facilitates innovative business models like usage-based pricing or license-based feature activation.
New Business Models
Digital identities unlock opportunities for new business models. For instance, uniquely identified machines or components can be linked to customer orders in as-a-service contracts, enabling automated performance tracking and billing.
By addressing the challenges and embracing the opportunities provided by digital identities, industrial companies can achieve greater security, efficiency, and innovation in the Industry 4.0 era.
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