Cyber Security
Making smart cities cyber secure
A By Dan Lohrmann
s cities grow smarter and more connected, what implications does this have for cybersecurity? Many people are questioning what it even means to be a smart city in the coming decade, since all over the world even mundane aspects of city living are becoming digitised. Take, for example, the implementation of smart trash cans. What used to be a recurring service of 14 trash collections per week, has now reduced to just three pickups utilising smart compactors. In Philadelphia they have installed more than 1,100 smart trash cans city wide and saved over $1 million. To curb gun violence, Boston has deployed a sensorbased gunfire detection system that can alert officers to precise crime scenes within seconds. These are two examples of how technology is helping remove waste, reduce costs and keep citizen safe. But what about downsides and risks relating to cyber security? What’s common in these smart city examples? Governments rely on constant connectivity to volumes of data from stationary and moving sensors. This data is transformed into useful information using data analytics to provide better overall business value, effective customer service and better quality of life. And exponentially more data is coming soon via Internet of Things (IoT) advances with smart lighting, building automation, emergency management systems, security and
40 | Australian Cyber Security Magazine
access control systems, intelligent grids, renewable power, connected water treatment and supply, transportation sensors, and many other smart sensors in every area of life. Put simply, global governments foresee a new information renaissance transforming public services. How big is this effort? Experts at the SmartAmerica Challenge predict that approximately $41 trillion will be spent on smart cities over the next 20 years to upgrade infrastructure to benefit from IoT advances.
A SMART STEP BACK What could derail these efforts? I’ve seen two smart city camps emerge. On one side, smart city planners share thousands of stories, conferences and case studies advocating smart cities in various channels. But within the cybersecurity community, the messages are much more negative. In fact, some are saying the sky is already falling. In this debate, like so many others, both sides passionately believe what they are saying. However, there isn’t much listening to the other side to reach a workable middle ground. I raise these security questions as an advocate who believes smart cities projects can solve problems like overcrowded cities, lack of resources, insufficient
