Siemens and TÜV SÜD Partner to Strengthen Digital Safety and Security for the Energy Sector

EIN 22 CS TUV SUD 400

May 30, 2019

Siemens and TÜV SÜD have come together to address the growing risk of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure by collaborating to provide digital safety and security assessments, as well as industrial vulnerability assessments to help global energy customers identify asset risk and cybersecurity solutions. 

Under this partnership, TÜV SÜD will offer digital assessments that incorporate Siemens as a provider of cybersecurity vulnerability assessments across the entire cyber asset management lifecycle.  The digital assessments of industrial control systems in both the oil and gas and power generation sectors (nuclear applications excluded) will be vendor-agnostic, meaning they will not be limited to customers using products and technologies manufactured and supplied by Siemens.

Critical infrastructure in the energy sector continues to be a primary target for hackers. This new risk environment, with a record number of near-miss safety events at plants around the world, poses significant potential for damage to the health and safety of people, processes, plants and products. Cyber threats to the environment, finance and supply chains jeopardize the entire global economy.  In this IoT-driven (Internet of Things) environment, where energy systems are increasingly connected, supplying data consolidation, visualization and evaluation, there is a heightened need for high-level trust and confidence in digital safety and security.

This is particularly relevant as cyberattacks are being executed more frequently, with higher level of sophistication, and at a lower cost.  Increased connectivity magnifies the threat surface in energy systems.  From Shamoon to Industroyer, to WannaCry, the need for a holistic cybersecurity solution should incorporate resiliency, hygiene and security by design.

“Leveraging TÜV SÜD’s expertise in safety and Siemens’s strength in digital security, redefines how energy companies will manage their growing physical and digital safety and security challenges,” said John Tesoro, President and CEO of TÜV SÜD North America. “TÜV SÜD has a long history of driving innovation, and is now at the forefront of cybersecurity testing, inspection and certification.  TÜV SÜD’s role is consistent with the need for developing mandatory, independent third-party certification for critical infrastructure and solutions,” added Tesoro.

“This is about reducing risk,” says Leo Simonovich, Vice President and Global Head for Industrial Cyber and Digital Security at Siemens. “Together, we will redefine an approach that will lead to reduction in the growing risks in the digital world, reducing risk in the physical world as well.  Combining safety and security to address the human element – and strengthen trust – will provide an unprecedented view into risk,” says Simonovich.

In addition to this activity, both companies are also driving the Charter of Trust. As members of this global cybersecurity initiative, both Siemens and TÜV SÜD are committed to ensuring the security of a digital world. With 16 members, the Charter of Trust calls for binding rules and standards to build trust in cybersecurity and further advance digitalization. The Charter delineates 10 action areas in cybersecurity where governments and businesses must both become active.

For more information, visit HERE.

Related Articles



Editor’s Pick: Featured Article

Weidmüller’s u-control 2000: The Automation Controller

Weidmüller’s u-control 2000: The Automation Controller

Weidmüller’s scalable engineering software, u-control 2000, adapts individually to your requirements. And, the u-control is powerful, compact and fully compatible with Weidmüller’s I/O system u-remote. This article looks at what makes u-control the heart of your automation.

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are one of the main components of any automated system. A typical control system has inputs, outputs, controllers (i.e., PLCs), and some type of human interaction with the system, a human machine interface (HMI), for example.

Read More



Latest Articles

  • Why Use Low-Consumption Contactors in Your Motor Control Systems?

    April 15, 2025 By Tiffany Moore Organizations are under more pressure than ever to improve sustainability metrics. How can you help them succeed — and win more business in the process?    Building motor control systems with more sustainable parts is one piece of the puzzle. Control panel builders, system integrators, and design firms have an… Read More…

  • The Long Cable Run Dilemma: Where Should You Install the VFD?

    April 15, 2025 By Damien Herwegh Sophia, a dedicated electrical engineer in a large industrial complex, has been tasked with installing a drive system where the motor is located hundreds of meters away from the control room. Like many engineers before her, she considers the usual question: Should I place the drive in the electrical… Read More…