Cybersecurity for the Long Haul: A Lifecycle Approach to Mining Surveillance

By Jason Chiu, Professional Services Group Manager with Axis Canada

Mines have typically been difficult to protect. Remote camps, vast perimeters, harsh climates, and high-value assets create an environment where safety and security are constant priorities. Nowadays, mining is no longer just about physical risks. The growing reliance on automation, connected sensors, and remote oversight has introduced an entirely new dimension of consideration: cybersecurity.

Should surveillance feeds be intercepted, access logs erased, or sensors tampered with, the impact is not confined to the digital realm. Cyber intrusions can delay safety responses, disrupt production, or compromise environmental monitoring. In short, a cyber event can become a physical incident.

That is why cybersecurity can no longer be treated as an add-on to mining operations. It must be proactively built in and managed. And like equipment or environmental systems, security must be considered across its full lifespan. A lifecycle approach to cybersecurity ensures surveillance and monitoring systems remain trustworthy from the moment they are designed to the day they are retired.

The lifecycle approach to cybersecurity in mining

In mining, lifecycle thinking is already second nature. Equipment is inspected, maintained, and retired according to strict schedules. Safety systems are tested and updated regularly, and environmental monitoring is treated as a long-term responsibility. Cybersecurity requires the same discipline.

To apply it effectively, operators need to focus on the connected systems that underpin daily operators. Cameras, access control, ventilation sensors, and even fleet management tools all represent potential points of entry. These are the areas where cyber vulnerabilities can creep in – and where a lifecycle approach should be considered.

Design and production: Secure from the start

Cybersecurity in mining doesn’t begin once equipment is switched on – it starts at the design stage. This is where the principle of secure-by-design comes in: building protections into systems from the outset, rather than trying to patch them later. A secure-by-design device might include a hardware root-of-trust – a built-in identifier that proves it is genuine and untampered – or use secure boot, which ensures only verified software can run when the system powers on.

For mines, where equipment often passes through long and complex supply chains before reaching remote sites, these safeguards are critical. Consider a tailings pond camera ordered months in advance. If devices are not built on secure-by-design principles, a compromised device could be tampered with during shipping and deployed without suspicion. With secure boot and hardware root-of-trust, operators can trust that the camera monitoring this sensitive area has not been altered and will deliver accurate, reliable data from day one.

Deployment: Connecting safely

Once systems are installed, the next challenge is ensuring they connect securely to the rest of the operation. This is where practices such as encrypted communication and zero-trust networking come in. Encryption scrambles data so that even if an outsider intercepts a feed – for example, from a tailings pond camera or a haul truck monitoring system – it remains unreadable. Zero-trust networking, meanwhile, is the idea that no device is automatically trusted even if it is inside the network; every connection must be verified.

This becomes especially important in control rooms, which are the nerve centers of mining operations. If access systems rely on outdated passwords or unsecured links, bad actors could exploit them. By deploying systems with strong authentication and encrypted channels, operators can ensure that both video and access logs remain accurate, tamper-proof, and ready for compliance audits.

Operation and maintenance

Mining equipment often stays in service for years, which creates challenges when it comes to cybersecurity. A system that isn’t updated can quietly become a weak point. This is where vulnerability management is essential – a process in which known flaws are tracked, communicated, and patched before they can be exploited. Regular updates, or patches, act like safety inspections for digital systems, keeping them strong against evolving threats.

Take underground safety monitoring as an example. Dust and gas sensors are vital, but they can generate frequent alarms. Without proper maintenance, attackers could exploit flaws to trigger false alerts or suppress real ones, leading to ‘alert fatigue’ and missed dangers. Lifecycle practices such as secure logging, patching, and anomaly detection keep these systems trustworthy, ensuring that when an alert does appear, it is genuine and acted upon.

End-of-life: Retiring responsibly

Eventually, devices must be replaced. Simply powering them down and leaving them in storage isn’t enough, because they may still contain sensitive information such as access credentials or stored footage. Secure decommissioning involves wiping this data and removing encryption keys so that old equipment cannot be misused.

This is particularly relevant in remote camps, where outdated access control panels or surveillance units may linger after relocations. If those devices are not properly retired, they can be exploited later to gain unauthorized access. By securely wiping them, operators close the door on vulnerabilities that would otherwise outlive the equipment itself.

Continuous feedback: Testing and adapting

Even the best-designed systems require ongoing scrutiny. Ethical hacking and penetration testing – where trusted experts simulate attacks – help uncover weaknesses before bad actors can exploit them. Combined with transparent vulnerability disclosure programs and independent audits, this creates a feedback loop that keeps protections evolving.

For mining this may involve testing networks that connect pit-to-port logistics or validating servers that control underground ventilation. These exercises reassure operators that critical systems will stand up to real-world attempts at tampering or intrusion, protecting both productivity and safety.

Cyber red flags to watch for

Even with lifecycle cybersecurity in place, certain warning signs suggest systems may be drifting into unsafe territory. Mining companies should be alert to:

• Devices that suddenly go offline without explanation.
• Gaps in logs or missing footage that indicate possible tampering.
• Unrecognized or unauthorized devices appearing on the network.
• Persistent use of outdated software or firmware.
• Accounts that still rely on shared or default passwords.

Each of these is a signal that vulnerabilities may already be forming. Addressing them quickly helps keep lifecycle protections intact.

Best practices for mining cybersecurity

Beyond watching for red flags, mining operators can take proactive steps to strengthen cybersecurity across the lifecycle. Key practices include:

• Procurement discipline: write cybersecurity requirements into contracts, including expectations for updates, support, and secure decommissioning.
• Cross-functional collaboration: involve information technology, operational technology, and safety staff together in planning, monitoring, and response.
• Regular patching and updates: treat firmware and software updates with the same urgency as mechanical maintenance.
• Stronger access controls: enforce role-based permissions, multi-factor authentication and device-level verification before joining networks.
• Monitoring and alerting: configure systems to flag anomalies such as missing logs, unexpected shutdowns, or unauthorized access attempts.
• Training and awareness: equip staff to recognize both digital and physical tampering, and to report issues quickly.

Together, these practices ensure cybersecurity becomes a normal part of mining operations rather than an afterthought.

Conclusion: Cybersecurity as the backbone of resilient mining

Mining is now a cyber-physical industry. Systems that once simply recorded incidents are expected to detect, deter, and document risks in real time. That role can only be fulfilled if cybersecurity is woven through every phase of the lifecycle.

The lifecycle approach provides the roadmap: build equipment securely from the start, connect it safely, keep it resilient during years of operation, retire it responsibly, and continuously test protections. Secure-by-design is the foundation, but it is the combination of all phases that ensures long-term resilience.

For an industry where safety, compliance, and community trust are paramount, lifecycle cybersecurity is not optional. It is the backbone of operational integrity – ensuring that mines remain not only productive, but also safe and trustworthy in a connected world.