The growing use of automation, remote operation and data exchange across mining equipment is bringing cybersecurity further into procurement decisions and operational governance. Digital security is increasingly linked to equipment availability, production continuity and the management of connected systems throughout their service life.
Sandvik announced IEC 62443-4-1 Maturity Level 3 certification for its secure product-development lifecycle. The announcement followed the company’s ISO IEC 27001 certification in May, covering the information-security management system used to support global application delivery.
Sandvik Certifications Cover Development and Information Security
The two certifications address specific development processes and information-security systems. They do not guarantee that every customer installation is free from cyber risks, nor do they remove mine operators’ responsibility for securing their own networks, managing access and maintaining appropriate operating procedures.
As mining equipment and processing systems exchange increasing amounts of data and rely more heavily on remote support, responsibilities between suppliers and operators become more significant. These include software updates, user-account management, remote-access permissions and procedures for responding to security incidents.
Cybersecurity Enters Equipment Procurement Requirements
For mining operations, cybersecurity has direct implications for equipment availability, the reliability of production data and the ability to restore operations following an interruption. These considerations bring digital security into investment assessments and operational reviews alongside other equipment requirements.
Procurement specifications can address cybersecurity by defining supplier support periods, software-update procedures and information requirements concerning secure product development. Responsibilities for integrating equipment, control systems and third-party software also need to be established where different technologies operate together.
Digital Safety Systems Depend on Reporting and Follow-Up
The governance of connected mining operations also includes digital safety tools. Metso’s Safety Performance Platform, introduced, is designed to simplify the reporting of risks, incidents and near misses and support the use of reported information in preventive measures. The platform’s effectiveness depends on workforce participation, data quality and appropriate follow-up. These requirements also apply to other digital systems used to support operational management.
Secure Development and Long-Term Equipment Support
For European mining-equipment manufacturers, secure product-development processes and dependable technical support are becoming part of the commercial offering for connected machinery. Mine operators, meanwhile, need to ensure that digital investments remain functional and usable throughout equipment operating lives.
Cybersecurity therefore forms part of the assessment of connected mining systems alongside mechanical reliability and safety. Its practical effectiveness depends on how supplier processes and mine-site controls operate together during routine production, software changes and unexpected disruptions.
