Mining Operator Safeguards Industrial Systems with 24/7 Managed Cyber Operations and Monitoring
The Challenge
HighRock Mining Ltd., a Canadian metals producer operating open-pit and refining facilities across Ontario and Alberta, struggled to maintain visibility and control over its expanding digital infrastructure. The company’s operational technology (OT) systems—including conveyor sensors, remote drilling equipment, and refining controls—were increasingly interconnected with its corporate IT and cloud environments.
However, cybersecurity oversight remained fragmented between IT staff, contractors, and third-party service providers. Logs were inconsistently collected, patches were applied manually, and incident escalation protocols varied by site. After a near-miss ransomware incident at one of its refineries, HighRock’s leadership realized that its existing internal IT team lacked the resources to provide continuous threat monitoring or enforce compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) Baseline Controls.
The absence of a unified monitoring and response capability left HighRock exposed to operational disruptions, safety hazards, and regulatory scrutiny. Insurers and investors began requesting verifiable assurances of cyber resilience—something the company could not currently demonstrate.
Our Solution
Our Managed Services and Operations team deployed a fully integrated Cybersecurity Operations and Monitoring Program designed for the unique demands of heavy industrial and mining environments. Key elements included: By transitioning to a managed cybersecurity model, HighRock established round-the-clock assurance, unified governance, and operational resilience across its entire production network.
- Security Operations Centre (SOC): Implementation of a 24/7 managed detection and response (MDR) service providing continuous monitoring across IT, OT, and cloud systems.
- IoT and SCADA Integration: Centralized visibility of industrial sensors, PLCs, and control systems through a secure operations dashboard.
- Automated Patch and Vulnerability Management: Scheduled updates and configuration baselines aligned with CCCS and ISO/IEC 27001 standards.
- Incident Response Playbooks: Standardized escalation, containment, and recovery protocols tailored for mining operations.
- Compliance Alignment: Continuous audit logging, breach notification readiness, and insurer reporting in accordance with PIPEDA and SOC 2 Type II criteria.
The Value
Within eight months, HighRock realized measurable operational and risk-reduction benefits: HighRock’s mining operations became both more secure and more efficient, demonstrating that cybersecurity investment directly contributes to production stability, safety, and stakeholder trust.
- 70% reduction in average incident detection and response times.
- Zero unplanned downtime due to cyber events across monitored facilities.
- 50% improvement in patch compliance and vulnerability remediation.
- 15% reduction in cyber insurance premiums following external verification.
- Enhanced regulator and investor confidence through continuous compliance reporting.
Implementation Roadmap
1. Assessment & Onboarding (Weeks 1–3): Audit existing IT/OT assets, log configurations, and network segmentation.
2. SOC Integration (Weeks 4–6): Connect all systems to centralized monitoring with automated alerts.
3. Policy & SLA Development (Weeks 7–9): Define breach notification, escalation, and recovery benchmarks under PIPEDA and CCCS.
4. Optimization & Training (Weeks 10–12): Refine patch automation, incident handling, and performance dashboards.
5. Continuous Assurance (Ongoing): Conduct quarterly vulnerability scans, compliance reviews, and insurer-ready reporting.
