Digital Conversations on International Women's Day
Hosted by:
Dr Emma Taylor CEng FIMechE FSaRS, Head of Digital Safety, RazorSecure
An award-winning engineer with more than 30 years of experience across transport, aerospace and energy.
Strengthening the Railway through Data, Safety and Cybersecurity
This International Women’s Day, I have brought together some of the brightest leading engineers who are leading the development of our railway. In this, the first of our Digital Conversations series, we look at the digital infrastructure that is underpinning design and operations, and highlight the ways we can strengthen the Railway through Data, Safety and Cybersecurity.
As RazorSecure we are in a unique position because we talk to OEMs, manufacturers, operators and maintainers as part of our providing products and services to enhance railway cyber security. But integrating this technology into the digital railway is a team effort which is why we’ve invited Steph Klecha (Head of Digital Services at Porterbrook), Lucia Capogna (Head of Software and Cyber Security, Aegis Certification Services) and Betty Helienek (Cyber Security Capability Lead ITS, WSP) to explore the topic with us. Between Steph, Betty, Lucia and myself, we have more than a century of engineering experience between us
We discussed that taking a digital and data perspective, using rail as a connected system instead of separating out track and train means that collected data can be used to give us advanced warning of things going wrong ahead of time across the network, allowing the supply chain to be more involved in managing risk. This technology is changing the architecture of railway systems, but these digital industrial systems also broadens the ‘attack surface’ of railway systems.
Cybersecurity is a positive for the railways, as taking a cybersecurity-informed perspective naturally leads to protection of integrity and availability of data, and thus a safer and more secure railway. Having been a safety engineer for many years, I have experienced project managers getting annoyed when I kept pointing out engineering challenges and pitfalls. Safety is negative, it’s true, but safety is negative to be positive, to have a positive impact on the railway. It’s the same for cybersecurity.
“Everyone in the railway - please listen to your cybersecurity experts. We are trying to help you, we are the good guys. We'll keep your railways safe, and we can also protect your revenue and your profits”
Betty Helienek, WSP
Whilst rail needs to have a step change in the way it looks at digital technologies, the message from our Digital Conversations is don’t be afraid to start small, prototype, roll it out, deliver, find out what works, and then iterate. Software and general digitalisation, provides both flexibility and the opportunity for reduction of cost. However, new challenges are raised to control the new vulnerabilities and weaknesses that may arise.
The temptation is to think big, but this means you can get lost in the concepts. It’s better to think big but start small. Given the wide range of levels of technical and organisational maturity that can be found across the industry, an iterative approach helps strike the right balance, one step at a time.
In 2022, Digital Conversations between individuals, organisations and national railways are more important than ever before. Thank you to Steph, Betty and Lucia for their time and engagement. I’d also like to thank RIA for their support of International Women’s Day, and Women in Rail for your support of all women in Engineering.
Speakers
Dr Emma Taylor (CEng FIMechE FSaRS), Head of Digital Safety, RazorSecure
Stephanie Klecha (CEng MIMechE), Head of Digital Services, Porterbrook
Betty Helienek (Bc Ing CEng MIET), Cyber Security Capability Lead ITS, WSP
Lucia Capogna (BSc MSc MIET), Head of Software and Cyber Security, AEGIS Certification Services
