The workshop held in Yerevan, with the participation of representatives from the French company Veolia Group, was dedicated to one of the urgent and important issues of our era of rapid development in information technology – cybersecurity. In addition to employees from Veolia Djur, part of the Veolia Group system, the workshop was also attended by the leadership and IT specialists of the Armenian branch of the French company SADE.
Cybersecurity – the term itself seems to say it all. Most of the participants were generally informed about the issue. However, the presentation by Jean-Marc Serle, one of the leading specialists from the Veolia Group and the event’s moderator, significantly broadened their understanding of the subject. The situation was presented “in all its complexity.”
The battle in this domain intensifies year by year. On one side, every effort is made to preserve confidentiality; on the other, attempts are made to breach it—through various means and for various purposes. Who are the perpetrators of cyberattacks? They can include state institutions, economic competitors, criminal entities, and even irrational or malicious individuals. On one hand, security technologies are rapidly evolving; on the other, programs designed to "break" them are being developed just as quickly. The struggle continues, as they say, with fluctuating success. Constant vigilance is therefore essential.
In this context, the Veolia Group, as one of the world’s leading environmental companies, is no exception. And it’s not just about financial interests. Veolia also develops advanced technologies in water supply, wastewater treatment, electricity and thermal energy production, and waste recycling. All of these have their value and significance.
There is, however, another critical factor: the social importance of the services the company provides. Imagine one of the water sources supplying Yerevan shutting down for even a few hours. A significant part of the city would be left without water. And this scenario is theoretically possible, as hackers could potentially infiltrate the company’s electronic management system. This risk is heightened by Veolia Djur’s continued and accelerating transition to digital technologies. However, a countermeasure also exists: the SCADA remote control system, which is based on the same digital technologies. It is being increasingly implemented in our region and ensures the capital’s stable water supply. And to ensure that this system is never compromised, IT specialists must remain ever vigilant.
That was the main message conveyed by the Veolia Group representatives to the workshop participants.
