Czech beer now safe from cyber attacks after Kaspersky’s help

Czech brewery Plzeňský Prazdroj has bolstered its cyber defences after forming a cyber security partnership with Kaspersky Lab.

Plzeňský Prazdroj, known for producing Pilsner Urquell, has successfully identified possible attack vectors and security gaps in its complex IT infrastructure thanks to the cyber security firm.

To help harden Plzeňský Prazdroj’s defences, Kaspersky Lab carried out a thorough cyber security assessment (CSA), beginning with an infrastructure audit and threat model development across the two brew houses and eight packaging lines at the plant.

Also checked were the corporate network linked to industrial zone, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software, while all uncontrolled external connections to and from the industrial floor were identified.

Consequently, Kaspersky Lab could compile a list of vulnerabilities and details of possible attack vectors. This helped the Plzeňský Prazdroj IT security team avert potential cyber attack consequences that could negatively affect the brewery’s safety, reliability and the company's bottom line.

Miroslav Zajíc, an IT analyst at Plzeňský Prazdroj, said: “The analysis showed us significant recommendations for the security lifecycle and highlighted weaknesses in security processes.

“Several areas for improvements were noted and all findings were summarised in the final report.”