A blueprint for OT SOC - Part 2

In this series of articles, i will present the OT SOC blueprint by answering these questions:

1. Why do wee need an OT SOC?
2. What are the components of the OT SOC and how to integrate them together?
3. Where to build the OT SOC?
4. Who are the stakeholders involved? and,
5. When to build an OT SOC?

In Part 1, we explored why organizations need an OT SOC and why simple monitoring or relying solely on defensive controls is insufficient to protect critical infrastructure. If you haven’t read it yet, check it out herehttps://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/blueprint-ot-soc-part-1-mohamed-atta-ctxaf/?trackingId=XbENDK7UTyqUgcp2ULDUbg%3D%3D&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_publishing_post_edit%3Bh3vjxyfbTeKhVOB%2FSwDjuw%3D%3D

Now, in Part 2, we will dive into what is needed to build an OT SOC and the essential questions we must address.

What is the business value of the OT SOC?

Just like and cybersecurity control cybersecurity team wants to acquire, it is best linked to organization's risk , It must be clear what value will the OT SOC will provide from business and operations perspective, support risk mitigation and operational resilience.

You may need more of a "compliance" focused SOC, a tactical SOC, an Incident focused SOC, or some combination of these. The SOC that intelligently targets the value chain for monitoring will be more successful and relevant to the business.

Defining the OT SOC Services

In designing an OT SOC, it is essential to clearly define the range of services it will provide. These services may generally be categorized into two types: reactive vs proactive and core vs supporting.

Reactive vs Proactive Services

Reactive Services: These are focused on responding to incidents after they occur. The SOC addresses threats that have already breached defenses, conducting activities such as incident response, investigation, and remediation. Examples include:

• Incident detection and analysis
• Threat containment and eradication
• Forensics and root-cause analysis

Proactive Services: These aim to prevent incidents before they happen, focusing on threat prevention and mitigation. Examples include:

• Threat hunting
• Vulnerability management
• Continuous monitoring and behavior analytics
• Security posture assessment

Core vs Supporting Services

Core Services: These are the essential functions that every OT SOC must provide to ensure the security and safety of critical infrastructure. Examples include:

• Continuous monitoring of OT/ICS environments
• Incident detection,
• triage, and
• response

Supporting Services: These services enhance the SOC’s ability to fulfill its mission but are not necessarily required for the SOC to function. They may be tailored to specific organizational needs or risk profiles. Examples include:

• Threat Intelligence
• Forensics
• Self-Assessment

High level SOC Overview

The below is a s simple workflow breaks down the SOC into abstract set of processes. The workflow the operational phases of a Security Operations Center (SOC) with two main stages: Detect and Respond. Here's a simple breakdown:

Detect Phase:

1. Collection: Data from various sources such as sensors, devices, or networks is gathered for analysis.
2. Detection: Security tools analyze the collected data to identify suspicious or malicious activity.
3. Triage: Once potential threats are detected, the SOC team prioritizes incidents based on their severity and urgency.

Respond Phase:

4. Investigate: The SOC team investigates the high-priority incidents to determine the scope and impact of the threat.

5. Neutralize: The team takes action to stop or mitigate the threat, preventing it from causing further damage.

6. Recover: After the threat is neutralized, systems are restored to their normal operational state, and lessons are documented.

Of course this is one way to present the SOC work flow , and there are many ways you can do that but this workflow covers all the necessary steps.

Each of these steps should be aligned the nature of the OT environment, resources available and technology stack selection. This will be presented in details in the rest of the series' articles.

SOC Planning

An OT SOC is a dedicated team and infrastructure designed to monitor, detect, and respond to cybersecurity incidents specifically in OT environments. Unlike IT SOCs, OT SOCs must account for the unique challenges of industrial control systems (ICS) and critical assets, where downtime or compromise could have significant safety, operational, or financial implications.

Key Pillars of an OT SOC

Every OT SOC is built on three essential pillars: People, Process, and Technology. These components work together to ensure that the SOC can effectively manage the security of OT environments.

• People: A specialized team of experts is required to manage the unique demands of OT systems. These professionals must not only understand cybersecurity but also the operational intricacies of the industrial systems they protect.
• Process: Well-defined processes ensure incidents are handled in a structured and timely manner. In an OT SOC, these processes are tailored to minimize operational disruption while ensuring quick detection and response to cyber threats.
• Technology: OT SOCs leverage a wide array of technologies, including SIEM (Security Information and Event Management), IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems), and asset visibility tools. These technologies help detect anomalies in real-time, providing visibility into both the network and the physical process layer.

Compliance and Business Context

Every OT SOCs must operate within the framework of regulatory compliance and the specific business context of the industry. Adhering to industry standards such as NERC CIP or IEC 62443 is essential to ensure safety and security. Moreover, the OT SOC must align its activities with the broader goals of the business, ensuring that security measures support operational efficiency without introducing unnecessary complexity.

People Pillar:

• Hierarchy: Defines the roles and responsibilities within the SOC, from analysts to management, ensuring clear lines of authority and escalation.
• Staffing: Refers to the allocation of the right number of skilled personnel with specialized OT and cybersecurity expertise to manage the SOC effectively.
• Operating Model: Outlines how the SOC operates on a day-to-day basis, whether it’s centralized, distributed, or operating 24/7 with shifts.

Process Pillar:

• Policies/Procedures: The established guidelines that dictate how the SOC responds to incidents, handles communications, and enforces security measures.
• Compliance/Governance: Ensures that the SOC adheres to necessary industry regulations and standards, such as NERC CIP or IEC 62443, while also aligning with internal governance frameworks.
• Improvement: Focuses on continuously refining and optimizing SOC processes, learning from past incidents, and adapting to evolving threats.

Technology Pillar:

• Tools: The specific technologies used by the SOC, such as SIEM, IDS, or vulnerability management systems, to detect, analyze, and respond to threats.
• Services: The internal and external services that the SOC relies on, such as threat intelligence feeds, managed security services, or incident response support.
• OT Context: A deep understanding of the unique operational environment in which the SOC operates, including OT systems, protocols, and critical infrastructure-specific threats.

In the upcoming parts of this series, we will dive deeper into how to tailor your SOC to technologies, processes, and business needs specific OT/ICS context. Stay tuned!