"At the moment IT systems are like a water pipe with an infinite number of leaks. And we are fighting about whether to patch the leaks with blue or red plasters when what we really need is a new pipe," says Frank Rieger of the Chaos Computer Club in a dramatic description of the situation after the latest spy attack on Germany’s federal data network.

This "Federal Hack" is just one example of the danger caused by rising digitalization that threatens our economy according to Arno Reich. "Industrie 4.0 is not possible without data and know-how security for production and communication processes between companies," says the Global Director of IAMD and Digital Factory on the HANNOVER MESSE team. "The reliable operation of digitally integrated manufacturing installations and services is one of the major challenges facing the industrial sector," says Reich.

With the motto "the Secure Path to the Digital Future" HANNOVER MESSE 2018 is therefore launching a new exhibition area for Industrial Security. In Hall 6, software specialists are showcasing everything that can guard against cyberattacks and operating failures – from Security by Design and authentication to encryption, copy protection and access control. With well-known exhibitors, a group pavilion, and the Industrial Security forum, this exhibition area will create a central information hotspot for users and product developers in industrial automation and mechanical/plant engineering.

"The security of society and the industrial sector depends on more than how successful we are at convincing the public and employees," says Steffen Zimmermann of the Competence Center Industrial Security (CCIS) of the Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA). At the Industrial Security joint pavilion in Hall 6 (Stand D02/2) the VDMA is focusing on "security as the enabler of Industrie 4.0," explains Zimmermann. The CCIS not only views itself as a major contact for VDMA members but also for political and scientific players. Interdisciplinary research groups at the CCIS have formed a network of experts that develop product-specific recommendations and solutions such as in agricultural engineering, building automation, and power generation. In addition to its competence center, the VDMA heads research groups for information security, industrial security, and a working group for product and know-how protection.

"Currently data protection is a hot topic for the industrial sector," says Steffen Zimmermann. First, the new EU data protection decree is generating a feeling of insecurity, and that is coupled with China’s cyber security law: "China is demanding that security-relevant data no longer leaves the country and it is trying to control the networks. But with Industrie 4.0, every company operates its own IT network." This "digital protectionism" which can also be found to a lesser degree in the EU, is currently one of the greatest hinderances to Industrie 4.0 according to Zimmermann.

"The digitalization and realization of Industrie 4.0 presents opportunities as well as risks, such as product piracy, reverse engineering, and cyber-attacks," says Elke Spiegelhalter of WIBU-SYSTEMS AG (Hall 6, C15). "Traditional security concepts such as watchmen are not suitable for integrated manufacturing; manufacturers need suitable security concepts – ones that are trustworthy and reliable. Security needs to be integrated right from the beginning."

WIBU-SYSTEMS is bringing a comprehensive palette of hardware and software-based solutions for PCs, embedded systems, mobile devices, SPS’s, and microcontrollers to Hannover that protect the integrity of digital content. "The focus of our exhibit includes software protection, licensing, and security, whereby the new protective hardware CmStick/B without flash storage in elegant, robust metal casing is being presented for the first time," says the PR manager.

WIBU is among the 21 partners in the IUNO research project (Hall 6, Stand D02/1). The purpose of this national reference project on IT security for Industrie 4.0 is to identify threats and risks to intelligent factories, develop security measures for manufacturers, and put them together in a toolbox. SMEs will be given the opportunity to take advantage of the digital transformation for themselves. Supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Education and Research, IUNO will run until June 2018.

"The topic of IT security is playing an increasingly greater role – all companies are being forced to find new solutions," says Susanne Oelschleger, Marketing Manager with Protea Networks (Hall 6, C10). "Before, it was enough to protect individual devices from unauthorized access – today more data is being stored in the cloud. We need different concepts for that," The Munich systems house Protea Networks specializes in IT security. Encryption, access control, configuration protection, firewalls/VPN, web application firewalls, content security, business continuity management, and data protection are topics that it addresses. At its HANNOVER MESSE premiere Protea is bringing along three partners: firewall specialist Barracuda, Cyberbit with its OT security platform SCADAShield, and BlueLiv with solutions for threat monitoring. "We work primarily with market and technology leaders," explains Oelschleger. "That guarantees modularity, scalability, and the greatest investments protection."

Another well-known exhibitor in the "Industrial Security" area is Trend Micro Deutschland (Hall 6, B16). With this company’s solutions, industrial plants can secure themselves comprehensively against cyber threats. It includes safeguarding network connections and securing data that is transferred and saved in the cloud.

DriveLock is exhibiting for the first time at HANNOVER MESSE (Hall 6, E15). This specialist for IT and data security from Munich is showcasing its DriveLock Smart AppGuard (application control with AI) in Hall 6. The company has an endpoint protection platform available that can configure very granular individual devices within a smart factory based on different guidelines.

Other exhibitors under the umbrella of "Industrial Security" include RadarServices, Kaspersky, itWatch, admerita, and Gemalto. Participants at the group stand include Rhebo GmbH, University4Industry, Fraunhofer IOSB, Fraunhofer AISEC, Janz Tech, Phoenix Contact, IUNO, accessec, and TÜV IT.

The group stand is affiliated with the "Industrial Security" forum which will address topics such as Security by Design, IT Security in Society, Certification and Standards, Data Protection and Law, Platform Security, Security Management, IoT Security, Industrie 4.0 Security, Security of Industry Records, and Security & People. At the forum, users will demonstrate approaches and best practice examples. Both the exhibition area and the forum have been organized by VDMA and Deutsche Messe AG.