Assess your defences
Cyberattacks and BIM – how to be prepared
By Chris Pottrell
“
Monitor and analyse anomalies and attack patterns
There ’ s no doubt that the cybersecurity threat landscape is constantly evolving . Day by day , newer threat variants are emerging , as hackers and the technologies they use become more sophisticated and targeted . This is especially pertinent for construction as digitalisation and open data collaboration becomes the norm . However , research shows the sector still does not view the online threat seriously .
“
Why must construction prioritise cyber security and what do basic best practices look like ?
A , perhaps unlikely , consequence of the pandemic is that it has accelerated the inevitable digital transformation of the construction sector faster than most had planned . At one time , it might have seemed impossible to see how the physical task of building and digitalisation could go hand-in-hand . Covid-19 changed all of this . In the absence of on-site capabilities , construction firms were quick to revert to new digital capabilities , such as 3D scanning , no-touch solutions , and remote inspection tools .
Engineers might have already been using BIM too , but the impetus of shutdowns propelled the sector to go beyond simple collaboration and see how this innovation can enable virtual hyper-collaboration to drive efficiency and productivity . This is seen as various studies point to BIM and digitalisation as a key enabler for construction growth in 2023 .
But this shift also brings with it risk . Inherently , the increasing use of digital services and widespread reliance on technology , together with the growing interconnectivity between the construction supply chain and high value payments involved , are increasing the sector ’ s vulnerability to cyberattacks . Construction has , in fact , been
28