A blueprint for OT SOC - Part 2
Mohamed Atta
OT Cybersecurity Expert | ISA/IEC 62443 Expert | GRID | CISSP | CRISC | SCADA Security Manager
In this series of articles, i will present the OT SOC blueprint by answering these questions:
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:
Proactive Services: These aim to prevent incidents before they happen, focusing on threat prevention and mitigation. Examples include:
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:
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:
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:
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Detect Phase:
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.
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:
Process Pillar:
Technology Pillar:
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!
Cyber Security Enthusiast - I talk about DevSecOps, Cyber Security & Web Dev | Ethical Hacker | Public Speaking | Communities
5 个月Totally worth reading, great tips Mohamed Atta
OT/ICS Cybersecurity Lead | Industrial Automation & Control Systems | GICSP | ISA/IEC 62443 Certified
5 个月Insightful Mohamed Atta
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