New iia publication – Cybersecurity Best Practices for Gamma Irradiation Facilities

Cybersecurity has become an important priority for organizations of all sizes around the world. Many reports have noted an increase in cyberattacks and exploited vulnerabilities across many different targets. In response to this, the iia has published ‘Cybersecurity Best Practices for Gamma Irradiation Facilities’.

The impact of a cyberattack can result in financial loss, the inability to operate or provide a service, or the loss of assets such as data and facilities. Operators of gamma irradiation facilities additionally need to prevent cyber vulnerabilities from being introduced into a physical protection system that protects their high-activity cobalt-60 sources.

Operators of gamma irradiation facilities should therefore implement and manage cyber and computer security programs to protect their radioactive sources. At the time of publication, there is a lack of international and national standards on cybersecurity programs specific for users of radioactive sources.

This document uses the Office of Radiological Security (ORS) Cybersecurity Best Practices for Radioactive Sources as a starting point. This has been tailored to the unique environment of gamma irradiation facilities and provides information on industry best practices to defend against cyberattacks targeting the computers within these facilities as well as those targeting physical protection systems. It covers fundamental cybersecurity principles and how they support risk management, designing, and implementing an effective cybersecurity program.

This guide can be read together with iia’s ‘Guide for Assessing Cybersecurity Programs at Gamma Irradiation Facilities’.

Read ‘Cybersecurity Best Practices for Gamma Irradiation Facilities’ here →