Privacy and Security Through Blockchain in Industry 4.0: An Industrial Cybersecurity Perspective

Introduction

The principle of “Industry 4.0” has been getting a lot of attention recent time. Many emerging concepts have recently evolved because of the expanding developments in manufacturing processes and technology. Due to ongoing technical advancements and improvements in manufacturing systems, the global industrial environment has gone through significant transformation in recent time. The “First Industrial Revolution” supported in the progress of mass production by using water and steam power rather than just both human and animal power. The usage of oil, gas, and electricity were both exhibited at “Second Industrial Revolution”, as well as assembly lines. The “Third Industrial Revolution” improved its efficiency with the aid of the following three technologies: computers, cutting-edge telecommunications networks, and data analytics. Mechanization, electricity, and information technology (IT) were all introduced to support workers during the first three industrial developments. People are currently living through the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” might abbreviated as Industry 4.0. By utilizing industrial automation and intelligent equipment, the production of goods and services could become more productive and efficient. Because manufacturing procedures have evolved to be more automated, complex, and sustainable, individuals can now operate machinery with ease, effectiveness, and consistency. In the European Union, industry contributes about 17% of the GDP and supports 32 million jobs, in addition to many other occupations. But in recent years, issues including an ageing population and competition from developing countries have harmed European countries' industries. These issues motivate the development of industrial technologies, two of which are the Cyber-Physical System (CPS) and Internet of Things (IoT), two cutting-edge technologies developed within the past ten years (Aoun et al., 2021). These technologies reduce Labouré force requirements, speed up product development, use resources more effectively, and other objectives.

Germans came up with the term Industry 4.0 because of the emergence of these technologies. The phrase “Industry 4.0” known as fourth industrial revolution, which is a new degree of degree of organization and control over the whole value chain of products. In contrast to computer integrated manufacturing, industry 4.0 places a high value on the contribution of human workers to the production process. To increase productivity and promote development, the Fourth Industrial Revolution aims to make our robots more autonomous, able to “speak” to one another, and capable of analyzing vast amounts of data in ways that humans just cannot. Manufacturers are infusing superior technology into their industrial processes, including the IoT devices, cloud computing, analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML). Such “smart” companies have been designed and equipped by advanced sensors, embedded software, and robotics which collect information, analyze them, and support decision-making. With the use of these digital technologies, processes can be improved through self-optimization, proactive maintenance, and greater mechanization. A variety of technological advancements, including CPS, IoT, Robotics, Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Augmented Reality, are included in such emerging industrial perspective will have a consequence on both products and processes.

Industry 4.0 concepts and technology are advantageous to all industrial companies, including those in the manufacturing, oil and gas, and mining sectors. The key components of a smart manufacturer are IoT sensors and devices. When emerging equipment's like IoT devices are deployed in smart factories, both quality and productivity are maximized. Manufacturing businesses can benefit fully from AI and machine learning. The replacement of mechanical handling operating models via AI-powered visual intelligence and insight minimizes manufacturing errors with improved performance in terms of time and cost. By applying machine learning algorithms, manufacturers can spot errors before they become costly to fix. Cloud computing seems to be a crucial part of Industry 4.0 plan. Utilizing the cloud, a smartphone simplifies the work of a quality control employee easier. An employee could remotely monitor and control the manufacturing process. Business organizations really haven't considered the importance of information security or cyber-physical systems. However, the factory's operating equipment's connectivity opens new entry points for hostile attacks and malware.