Securing Critical Infrastruktur
Challenge
Critical infrastructures, which include communication networks, are of great importance to the state community. In the event of attacks on this infrastructure, there would be significant disruption to public safety or other dramatic consequences. In accordance with EU Directive 2022/2557 on the resilience of critical infrastructure (CRITIS), operators must implement an attack detection system that informs them automatically and in real time about security deficiencies.
Solution
Exelonix offers a monitoring solution for cable ducts to detect and document manhole openings in real time. The detection of service personnel on site using a Bluetooth key fob makes it possible to differentiate between a planned opening of a service case and an attack on the infrastructure.
The easy-to-install retrofit solution consists of a 5G SENS IO-BOX communication module and up to 3 robust limit switches (familiar from automation technology). These limit switches are used to detect the opening of the manhole cover. The communication module then sends a warning to the cloud backend.
The solution also offers a cloud dashboard for monitoring the various cable ducts. If an opening is detected, the history is updated in the dashboard.
All openings in the cable ducts are fully documented with this system. It is also possible to detect openings by service personnel. For this purpose, the service staff receive a Bluetooth key fob. When it is opened, the communication module searches for Bluetooth ID tags in the vicinity and transmits the data found to the cloud. The opening is documented there along with the information which service personel was on site.
Customers
- Fibre optic network operator
- Municipal utilities operator
- Telecommunications providers
- Operators of critical infrastructure
Reference
Cito Networks GmbH operates communication networks in Berlin. The route of this network ring runs right through the centre of Berlin. The high-performance and secure fibre optic lines are used to supply important major customers such as mobile network operators and several medium-sized companies. The monitoring solution was developed by Exelonix together with the experts from Cito Networks and is currently being retrofitted in the cable ducts in the network ring.