Full Report
Industrial Internet Consortium will take part in the Kaspersky Industrial Cybersecurity Conference 2019 in Sochi as an Association Partner. Don't miss the IIC delegate's presentation!
Analysis Summary
# Industry News: Industrial Internet Consortium Partners with Kaspersky for 2019 ICS Conference
## Summary
The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) has formally signed on as an Association Partner for the Kaspersky Industrial Cybersecurity Conference 2019 in Sochi. This partnership highlights the increasing collaboration between global industrial standards bodies and cybersecurity vendors to address the unique security challenges of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
## Key Details
- **Date:** August 16, 2019
- **Companies Involved:** Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), Kaspersky
- **Category:** Partnership / Industry Event
## The Story
In a move to strengthen the ties between operational technology (OT) standards and cybersecurity implementation, the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) will participate as an Association Partner in Kaspersky’s annual flagship industrial security event. The IIC, a global membership organization that promotes the accelerated growth of the IIoT, will send delegates to present on the latest frameworks and cross-industry best practices. This collaboration is set against the backdrop of increasing cyber-physical threats, where the integration of legacy industrial systems with modern internet connectivity has created a new, vulnerable attack surface.
## Business Impact
### For the Companies Involved
- **Kaspersky:** Gains significant industry validation and "soft power" by aligning with a global authority like the IIC, helping to position its ICS-CERT and product suite as industry-standard solutions.
- **IIC:** Increases its influence within the Eastern European and global security communities, ensuring that its architectural frameworks are integrated into the practical security conversations held by Kaspersky’s engineering-heavy audience.
### For Competitors
- Major competitors in the ICS space (such as Claroty, Dragos, or Nozomi Networks) may feel pressure to increase their participation in high-level standards organizations to ensure their market influence isn't eclipsed by Kaspersky’s growing ecosystem of partners.
### For Customers
- End-users benefit from a more unified approach to IIoT security. When standards bodies (IIC) and vendors (Kaspersky) collaborate, it usually leads to products that are more compliant with global best practices and easier to integrate into existing industrial frameworks.
### For the Market
- This partnership signals that the "Wild West" era of IIoT is maturing. The market is moving away from fragmented, proprietary security setups toward standardized, interoperable security ecosystems.
## Technical Implications
The collaboration likely signals a deeper focus on the **IIC Security Framework (IISF)**. Attendees can expect technical discussions centered on protecting the "End-to-End" IIoT stack—from edge sensors and gateways to cloud-based analytics—emphasizing the convergence of IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology).
## Strategic Analysis
- **Market Positioning:** Kaspersky is positioning itself as more than just a software vendor; it is aiming to be a thought leader in the structural governance of industrial security.
- **Competitive Advantage:** Direct access to IIC delegates provides Kaspersky with early insights into upcoming IIoT standards, allowing them to adapt their product roadmap ahead of the curve.
- **Challenges:** Navigating geopolitical sensitivities. As a global consortium, the IIC’s partnership with a Russian-based firm (Kaspersky) requires careful management of international stakeholder perceptions in a highly sensitive sector.
## Industry Reactions
- **Analyst Opinions:** Analysts view this as a necessary step for the industrial sector, noting that security cannot be "bolted on" but must be part of the architectural design promoted by groups like the IIC.
- **Expert Commentary:** Experts highlight that IIC's involvement brings a much-needed focus on "safety" alongside "security," a critical distinction in industrial environments where cyber attacks can lead to physical harm.
## Future Outlook
- **Predictions:** Expect more joint whitepapers and security testbeds between Kaspersky and IIC members following the conference.
- **What to Watch For:** Look for announcements regarding new technical integrations between Kaspersky’s Industrial CyberSecurity (KICS) platform and IIC-certified industrial hardware.
## For Security Professionals
Cybersecurity practitioners in the industrial space should pay close attention to the IIC presentations from this event. The frameworks discussed will likely dictate how future insurance audits and compliance checks are performed for OT environments. It is an opportunity to move from reactive patching to a standardized "security by design" mindset.