Industrial environments need Cybersecurity too! Protecting your OT Systems

When we think of cybersecurity, our minds often jump to protecting Information Technology (IT) networks from cyberattacks.

However, industrial environments with their Operational Technology (OT) systems require just as much attention to cybersecurity. While the foundational principles are similar, OT cybersecurity has unique challenges and requirements.

??Discover be. OT Solution

In this newsletter, we'll explore these distinctions and explain how Teldat’s be.OT solution provides robust protection for OT environments.

Let′start!

?What is an Operational Technology – OT environment?

In order to understand what an OT environment is, it’s essential that we define this type environment and what it applies to.

Operational Technology (OT) refers to the hardware and software used to monitor and control physical devices, processes, and infrastructure in market sectors such as general manufacturing, energy, utilities, transportation and telecommunications, among other markets. OT systems are critical to ensure the smooth operation of industrial processes and infrastructure.

?Why do Operational Technology - OT systems require cybersecurity?

OT environments require cybersecurity deployments due to a number of issues, but perhaps the most important of these issues are:

Increased connectivity, existence of specific vulnerabilities, reduce supply chain risks, comply with regulatory requirements and avoid human factor errors.

?So let’s understand these different points in more detail.

• Increased Connectivity: With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0, OT systems are becoming more interconnected. While this connectivity offers benefits such as real-time monitoring and remote control, it also increases the attack surface for cyber threats.
• Vulnerabilities: OT systems often run on legacy hardware and software that may not have built-in security features. Additionally, these systems may have long lifecycles, making them more susceptible to security vulnerabilities as they age.
• Supply Chain Risks: OT systems are often part of complex supply chains involving multiple vendors and contractors. Each component in the supply chain represents a potential entry point for cyber threats, requiring comprehensive cybersecurity measures to mitigate risks.
• Regulatory Requirements: Many industries have regulatory requirements for cybersecurity to protect critical infrastructure and ensure the safety and reliability of operations. Compliance with these regulations often necessitates robust cybersecurity measures for OT systems.
• Human factors: including human errors, negligence, and insider threats can also compromise the security of OT systems. Effective cybersecurity measures should include training and awareness programs to educate personnel about security best practices and mitigate the risk of insider threats. ??

?Other cybersecurity key points in Operational Technology – OT environments

There are many key points that need to be taken into consideration when analyzing cybersecurity for OT environments. Among others these are:

Real-time operations, proximity to critical device, cloud versus on-site, as well as AI & ML against zero-day attacks

• ?Real-time operations

Unlike Information Technology (IT) systems that primarily deal with data processing and communication, OT systems are real-time operations and directly interact with physical equipment. Any disruption in these systems can have immediate consequences on operations and safety. This is not to say that IT systems are not important, but if an OT environment is affected by a cyber attack it could mean, for example the disruption of a manufacturing plant or the inability of a utility base to generate power, leaving a whole geographical area without electricity.

Therefore OT systems are often part of critical infrastructure and industrial processes. Any cyber attack or breach targeting these systems can lead to production downtime, equipment damage, safety hazards, environmental incidents, and important financial losses for the company struck by the cyber attack and all its clients who would not be able to receive its supplies.

• ?Proximity to critical devices

Cybersecurity needs to be as close as possible to the critical devices aimed to protect for effective defense against cyber threats. This proximity ensures timely detection, response, and mitigation of potential security incidents, as well as minimizing the risk of damage, disruption, or compromise to critical infrastructure and industrial processes.

By embedding cybersecurity measures directly within or adjacent to the critical devices and systems they safeguard, organizations can create a layered defense approach that enhances resilience and reduces the attack surface for cyber threats. Additionally, it allows immediate identification of anomalous behavior and facilitates rapid incident response and recovery actions. This is due to cybersecurity controls that can be designed to automatically trigger protective measures or isolate compromised devices to prevent further harm.

• ?Cloud vs On-site approaches

Although a cloud approach is totally viable, Operational Technology (OT) environments often seem to prefer an on-site security approach over cloud solutions due to several factors. Firstly, on-site security offers greater control and visibility over critical infrastructure and industrial processes, allowing organizations to directly manage and monitor security measures without reliance on external providers or internet connectivity.

Additionally, on-site solutions can better address latency and reliability concerns inherent within OT environments in certain circumstances, where real-time operations and minimal downtime are essential. Furthermore, on-site security provides assurance of data sovereignty and compliance with industry-specific regulations and standards, which may require sensitive information to remain within the organization's premises.

However, although these are the circumstances used to prefer on-site solutions to cloud systems, others may argue that advanced cloud systems can solve all these issues without any problem.

• ?AI and ML against Zero-Day attacks

Artificial Intelligence - AI and Machine Learning – ML, play a crucial role in the battle against cyber zero-day attacks by enabling proactive threat detection and rapid response. These technologies analyze vast amounts of data from various sources, including network traffic, system logs, and user behavior, to identify patterns and anomalies associated with potential zero-day cyber attacks.

By continuously learning from historical data and adapting to evolving threats, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms can detect previously unseen attack vectors and suspicious activities indicative of zero-day attacks. Moreover, these technologies can automate threat detection and response processes, allowing security teams to mitigate zero-day threats in real-time before they can cause significant damage or disruption.

?What about your Operation Technology - OT system?

?This Newsletter has explained briefly some of the different reasons why any OT environment needs cybersecurity solutions and how they differ from IT network cybersecurity solutions.

Perhaps one of the most important points that have been mentioned in this Newsletter is that

..if an industrial network or environment isn't adequately secured against cyber-attacks, the potential consequences could be catastrophic!

Teldat has a wealth of experience in cybersecurity and with our be.OT solution , we offer the perfect cybersecurity solution for OT and industrial environments.

Get in contact with us ? https://go.teldat.com/l/1033423/2024-03-20/n3vb

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