According to Levin Nock from DesignLights Consortium and ECMweb.com, network lighting fixtures have become an open door for data breaches, ransomware or other forms of cyberattack.
“Last year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Center received nearly 800,950 cybercrime complaints, representing potential total losses of more than $10.2 billion,” says Levin.
Cybersecurity is increasingly important, with networked lighting becoming a particular area of concern. “The fear that hackers could use networked lighting control (NLC) systems to access building data such as occupancy patterns – or even business data such as customer information – is a significant reason why NLC installation continues to lag, despite research showing the technology’s significant potential to increase the energy savings of LED lighting,” says Nock.
DesignLights Consortium has included measures protect networked systems from attacks by ensuring that products meet specific codes if they’re to be considered in the NLC Qualified Products List that guides lighting energy efficiency programmes in the US.
“DesignLights Consortium is not a security standards body and it doesn't develop security standards. Through research and outreach, however, it has identified several cybersecurity standards and services that satisfy the NLC5 criteria, and has developed a resource to help manufacturers and other users find standards and/or services appropriate to each situation,” says Nock, adding, “Increasing the cybersecurity of NLCs will enhance their value for both utilities and end-users, helping to accelerate adoption of a game-changing and as-yet under-utilised technology.”
