Automation Software Engineering Kongress
The Automation Software Engineering Congress brings together software experts from industry, research, and academia with the specialists of the automation world. The goal is to bridge a gap that has been observed in the market: Given the relevance of software in the current scenario, the skills of mechanical and automation engineers need to be levelled up, so they can produce high quality software and in turn increase their sector’s competitiveness in the global arena. The congress will thus give new impetus to the use of the latest technologies, methods, and processes, while promoting an exchange of know-how between different industries and fields of application.
Wibu-Systems will be available on the expo grounds to share its expertise in software protection, licensing, and security – three areas that are fundamental for the German automation industry to thrive. It is by safeguarding digital assets associated with software, firmware, and sensitive data, and by monetizing them via flexible licensing schemes that automation vendors can truly gain new momentum and see their work appreciated in trusted IIoT platforms.
On September 18th, 2.20 pm to 2.50 pm, Guenther Fischer, Wibu-Systems’ Senior Licensing and Protection Consultant, will hold the lecture IP Protection of PLCs: Effective protection measures for PLC software to prevent machine and system counterfeiting. Software protection should not be limited to the PC world alone; rather, there is a need for an essential design effort that extends to any piece of software, regardless of the system it runs upon. Awareness for security of both users and mechanical engineers has increased tremendously ever since Stuxnet hit. Many governments have inaugurated dedicated programs and set up "cyber defense centers" to defend critical infrastructures. However, cyber-attacks are not the only risk you should watch out for.
Any tampering with software code, even if motivated by good intentions, can have unintended consequences, including the loss of the manufacturer’s warranty. Encrypting the code is the first step in the fight against software, machine, and product piracy. The cryptographic key is then safely stored either in a secure hardware element or in a secure file bound to the digital fingerprint of the machine or the controller. Since the program code is available in the memory of the target system in encrypted form only, static analysis is not possible, making any attempts at reverse engineering an exercise in futility. If any attack is recognized, the license is locked, and no parts of the software stay decrypted any longer. Additionally, by digitally signing the program code, the protection mechanisms on the endpoint only allow correctly signed program parts to be loaded or executed, preventing any manipulated programs from running in the first place.
Registration: Please contact us to enjoy a discount on the entrance fee.