What is the best way to evaluate your DCS's cybersecurity posture?

-Starting with gap assessment which will provide us with evaluation for the existing operational and technical cybersecurity practices -For details, we will need to perform risk assessment and this will require to create ●System architecture ●Network diagram ●Asset inventory To specify the entry points to DCS and the conductivity with other system. After conducting high level risk assessment we can partion DCS into zones and conduits And after that perform detailed RA which will result the recommended cybersecurity countermeasures But this is long process need time and resources( budget) We can consider gap assessment is enough as it will provide us comparison to existing industry standard and regulations such as NIST & 62443

As the age old saying goes, we cannot protect what we do not see. 1. The first step is to understand what are the assets that forms the DCS architecture, and group them based on criticality. 2. Understand the zones are grouped based on the functionality requirement and criticality of assets. 3. Evaluate of the data flow from zones are monitored and controlled by ACL or firewall rules. 4. Monitor the network traffic for unusual traffic 5. Implement the password policy as per industrial standards for all assets wherever possible. These are some high level steps to check for when validating DCS architecture.

After determination of the criticality, it's useful to group your assets into zones connected by conduits. A zone is a set of assets sharing the same level of criticality and often the same high level process or localisation. The conduits between zones help you identifying the network flux between your zones and the level of security necessary to protect them.

It is best to first check do we have all the inventory of our asset detail which help us to organize the planning . It is most important step to gauge our posture planning. Once we capture all the assets, going for gap assessment would be right path to understand the gaps in meeting the standard compliance. Performing gap only to identify the weakness should not be target. Objective should be baseline the assessment with appropriate standards like’s ISO27001 for GRC or keeping internally adopted IEC 62443 . This step will indicate clear picture of security posture as per standard compliance recommendations.

I would like to point out few things in the above statement. When it comes to connectivity and possible risk identification. It is not sufficient to understand only DCS architecture, rather one should have the understanding of complete Plant Network. Considering example of ISA95, One shoud know :- 1. What is sitting on each level. 2. How the connectivity between each layer and to the external world is ensured. 3. All the network components and their importance in the IT/OT structure. 4. At what level or how backups and ADs are maintained 5. Prepare a detail inventory list. Once above is achieved, Risk assessment and Gap closing between IT/OT can be intiated in line with IEC62443.

A VA is a minor step of the assessment. The major step is to evaluate the compliance of your security policies, practices & controles with a standard and preferably an ICS Cybersecurity standard. Generally the VA is passive and will have limited results, it's really important to interview the DCS & OT Engineers to understand which controls are implemented and how they're implemented.

Perform assessment activity, including but not limited to: 1. VA (active, passive) 2. HLRA 3. C2M2 These are the most basic requisites, baseline architecture for assessments

Existen muchas herramientas de software que pueden realizar una evaluacion de la infraestructura en un sistema de control. Sin embargo, los mayores riesgos estan en la parte "no software", en la gestion de estos riesgos, en que "personas" administran o usan esta infraestructura, siguen los procedimientos? estan entrenados? Son algunas preguntas clave que debemos hacernos para esta evaluacion.

Perform assessment activity, including but not limited to: 1. VA (active, passive) 2. HLRA 3. C2M2 These are the most basic requisites, baseline architecture for assessments

VA is part of the process, the heart of a robust cybersecurity assessment in ICS involves actively engaging with and understanding the controls implemented. This is achieved through interviews with the key personnel responsible for the systems. Using an established standard, especially one tailored for ICS Cybersecurity, provides a benchmark for evaluating the organization's security posture. It ensures that the assessment is not just a technical exercise but also aligns with best practices and recognized industry standards.

Before implementing security controls that involve segmentation or restrictions in access. It’s important to understand the underlying dependencies of the DCS. Collaborating with the safety and engineering team is one good way to merge what is learnt from HAZOP exercises to better plan any controls to be implemented. Visibility plays a huge role in implementing any control without insights into the current infrastructure it’s hard for teams to implement “cookie cutter” solutions. it’s important to make sure we have defensible architecture in mind when planning to implement any solution or measure. Ensuring that all dependencies or infrastructure changes that can make the rollout easier is something that needs more of a preemptive thought.

While implementing any security controls in SCADA/DCS systems, A detailed RA must be conducted along with a run down of Defence in Depth methodology.

The selection of cyber countermeasures will depend on the target security level so using ISA/IEC62443-3-3 standard ,we could select required system requirements to achieve target security level

Ensuring continuous implementation of security controls is essential as well. This can be accomplished by conducting regular automated compliance assessments.

Security enhancements for distributed control systems (DCSs) must be sensitive to operational issues, especially availability. This paper presents three security enhancements for DCSs that satisfy this requirement: end-to-end security for DCS protocol communications, role-based authorization to control access to devices and prevent unauthorized changes to operational parameters, and reduced operating system kernels for enhanced device security

I would put training as the first step. Without building a defensive team, non of the other steps can be effectively accomplished.

Cyber Awareness training is very much aimed at the carpeted world, blue collar workers that operate DCS equipment rarely have access to corporate laptops or smart phones. This leaves a considerable gap in educating staff on operating equipment securely from a Cyber perspective. Pre-shift cyber security shorts on shopfloor TV screens has some impact in this area.

Esto es primordial para mantener en el mediano o largo plazo un modelo de ciberseguridad sostenible. La forma mas facil de "penetrar" un sistema es mediante las personas que usan o administran el sistema. Y normalmente es sencillo.

Defense-in-depth employs a comprehensive approach to leverage multiple methods to mitigate risks. To apply defense-in-depth, understand the relationship of intruders (threats and threat actors) and vulnerabilities to the controls (standards, detection methods, and countermeasures). Provide training and communication to personnel to raise awareness of threats improve secure. IT is part of the NIST 800-82 framework recommendations.

Conduct tabletop exercises to simulate real-world scenarios related to DCS security. This hands-on approach allows staff to practice their knowledge and responses in a controlled environment. By engaging in tabletop exercises, organizations can identify areas for improvement in DCS security protocols, training programs, and overall incident response strategies.

?Identify and document the unique needs. ?Develop network diagrams for each of the logically integrated systems ?Select the risk assessment methodology. Select the one which is most useable for your organization. ?Identify key stakeholder. ?Develop an Asset Inventory. Assets are the focus of a security program. ?Assessed each individual system to understand the financial and HSE consequences, in the event that the CIA of the system is compromised. ?Develop a high-level scale rate risk associated with each system in terms of H, M, L or $ ?Record the risk in the inventory list developed earlier. ?The rating scale gives a starting point to prioritize the systems. ?Document the risk assessment results and revalidate them on a periodic basis.

Securing a system can seem extremely daunting, but there are generally accepted countermeasures that will improve your security posture. The ever-increasing connectivity of automated plants provides unprecedented visibility into systems, resulting in advanced analytics and data that can help improve processes, create efficiencies and increase profitability.

Adapt and Evolve: Security posture requires constant vigilance. Regularly review and revise your security policies and procedures to reflect evolving threats and vulnerabilities. Stay informed about emerging cyber threats and adapt your defenses accordingly. Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.

Determining instructions for checking and updating systems and Monitoring the correct implementation of instructions,Keeping them confidential.

In my view, Step 6 is not always done in step 6. It is very possible that this step is carried out at the beginning of the diagnosis. Discussing and collaborating with stakeholders is a fast route to formulating this problem.

Mirroring Achmad's comment, deep vertical knowledge share from industrial OEM's, ISV's, Supply Chain partners/customers, Dealerships, Consultants, Industry experts and regulatory bodies should be the very first step in digitizing or modernizing DCS environments to align with stronger Cyber Security controls.

1. Stay updated with patches and updates: Regularly update your DCS software and firmware to ensure that you have the latest security patches. Outdated software can create security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers. 2. Train employees: Educate your employees about cybersecurity best practices and the importance of adhering to security policies. Human error is one of the leading causes of cybersecurity incidents, so ensuring that your staff is aware of potential risks is crucial. 3. Engage third-party experts: Consider hiring external cybersecurity experts who specialize in DCS systems to perform independent audits and assessments.

One can not over-emphasise the importance of standards in a DCS risk assessment. This is the best way to avoid the patchwork approach to Cybersecurity where the focus is on implementation of products which may or may not close a gap and ignoring entire part of your posture. The standard which comes to mind is ISA-62443.

La ciberseguridad no solo trabajo de un equipo, si no es trabajo de una organizacion o corporacion. Sin el respaldo fuerte de los lideres nunca se podran cerrar las brechas que existen. Simple como esto.

Educate your staff on cybersecurity best practices and enforce security policies. Human error is a major contributor to cyber incidents, making employee awareness a critical defense. Engage third-party experts specializing in DCS systems for independent audits. Adopting standards like ISA-62443 ensures a comprehensive approach, avoiding a patchwork strategy and fortifying your cybersecurity posture. Regularly update DCS software and firmware to stay ahead of security vulnerabilities. Outdated systems can be exploited by attackers, making timely patches crucial.

Something else that is very important- Backup and Recovery. Establish robust backup and recovery processes for critical DCS data and configurations. Regularly test the restoration process to verify its effectiveness.