OT Integrity Plus – Online Digest

OT Integrity Plus is a LinkedIn review of content by industry experts from Hexagon that I have curated. It covers OT cybersecurity topics including Asset Visibility, Continuous Hardening, Configuration Management, Risk Management, and Response and Recovery.

To explore all our recent content in this area, visit: OT/ICS Cybersecurity | Hexagon's ALI Division Resource Center.

?Safeguarding Industrial Control Systems: Understanding ISA/IEC 62443 and Configuration Management

Author: Ali Sanjak

ISA/IEC 62443 is a comprehensive set of standards designed to address the cybersecurity needs of Industrial Control Systems (ICS). Developed by the International Society of Automation (ISA) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), these standards provide guidelines for securing industrial automation and control systems. They cover various aspects of cybersecurity, including network security, system protection, and security management throughout the lifecycle of ICS.

A critical component of ISA/IEC 62443 is configuration management, which involves managing and protecting system configurations. This includes configuration identification, change management, configuration control, and auditing. By carefully documenting configuration items, monitoring changes, and enforcing control policies, organizations can prevent unauthorized modifications and enhance system security.

The benefits of adopting ISA/IEC 62443 and robust configuration management practices are significant. These standards help organizations reduce the risk of cyber threats, maintain system stability despite updates or changes, and achieve compliance with industry regulations. Additionally, proactive configuration management can prevent costly downtime, system failures, and security breaches, leading to improved cost savings and operational reliability. Ultimately, following ISA/IEC 62443 strengthens ICS security, ensuring resilience in an increasingly interconnected and digitalized industrial environment.

Here’s the link to the full article: Safeguarding Industrial Control Systems: Understanding ISA/IEC 62443 and Configuration Management

Final Thoughts on ICS Continuous Hardening: Shifting the Focus to Risk-Based Strategies

Author: Nick Cappi

In my final blog of the year on ICS Continuous Hardening, I reflect on what matters most: prioritizing risk over tasks. While industry discussions emphasize executing work processes like asset inventory, network segmentation, patch management, and employee training, there is little focus on risk-based decision-making. Given limited resources, unexpected outages, and the need for sustainable operations, it's essential to shift the narrative from doing everything to doing the right things.

A robust security program aims to mitigate risk to an acceptable level. This requires evaluating likelihood and consequence to prioritize tasks. For example, addressing a critical vulnerability depends on context: Is the vulnerable system integral to safety or critical to operations? The answer influences whether immediate patching is warranted or can wait for a scheduled outage.

Risk-based decision-making ensures resources are directed where they matter most. Work processes like firewall rules, access controls, or whitelisting may sometimes outweigh the need for a patch. By applying a simple risk equation and focusing on priority areas, organizations can optimize efforts, reduce unnecessary workload, and enhance overall security.

As Dale Carnegie noted, "An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing." Let’s apply this wisdom to hardening ICS environments for impactful, risk-aligned security strategies.

Here’s the link to the full article: ICS Continuous Hardening: Shifting the Focus to Risk-Based Strategies

Safeguarding Tomorrow: Exploring the Essentials of Critical Infrastructure, Distributed Control Systems and Asset Visibility

Author: Chad Elmendorf

Critical infrastructure—spanning sectors like energy, transportation, and healthcare—forms the backbone of modern society, ensuring economic stability and public safety. Its resilience is vital, as threats such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, and system misconfigurations pose significant risks. Safeguarding these systems demands robust security measures.

Distributed Control Systems (DCS), a key enabler of critical infrastructure, decentralizes control tasks to enhance efficiency, reliability, and fault tolerance. By providing real-time monitoring and automation, DCS empowers operators to swiftly identify and address process disturbances. However, their security is crucial; vulnerabilities in DCS can jeopardize entire systems, necessitating stringent cybersecurity measures.

Equally vital is asset visibility, which ensures organizations maintain an accurate inventory of physical and digital components within their systems. This visibility enables proactive detection of vulnerabilities, unauthorized activities, and potential threats. By integrating asset visibility into risk management strategies, organizations bolster their incident response and overall security posture.

As society becomes increasingly interconnected, securing critical infrastructure through advanced technologies and cybersecurity practices is paramount. Asset visibility is indispensable in building resilience, safeguarding critical systems, and ensuring the uninterrupted operation of society's foundational sectors.

Here’s the link to the full article: Explore the Essentials of Critical Infrastructure, Distributed Control Systems and Asset Visibility

OT Cybersecurity Risk Management: Lessons from World-Class Sports

Author: Syed M. Belal

Managing cybersecurity risks in Operational Technology (OT) is increasingly vital as IT and OT systems converge. OT environments control physical processes in industries like manufacturing and energy, where breaches can cause severe consequences. By drawing parallels to world-class sports such as the World Series, America’s Cup, and World Track Cycling Championships, we can uncover key lessons for effective OT cybersecurity risk management.

In baseball’s World Series, success hinges on preparation and strategy. Just as teams analyze opponents and make real-time adjustments, OT cybersecurity requires constant risk assessments, proactive strategies like segmentation, and regular testing to stay ahead of threats. The America’s Cup emphasizes resilience and adaptability, as sailors face unpredictable conditions. OT operators must similarly maintain situational awareness, build redundancy into systems, and be prepared to respond quickly to incidents. Finally, in track cycling, balance and teamwork are critical. OT cybersecurity requires coordination across departments, continuous improvement, and the careful integration of new technologies without compromising security.

By applying these sports-based principles—preparation, resilience, adaptability, and teamwork—organizations can better manage OT cybersecurity risks, ensuring operational resilience in the face of evolving threats.

Here’s the link to the full article: OT Cybersecurity Risk Management: Lessons from World-Class Sports

PAS OT Integrity is a robust platform designed to enhance cybersecurity and operational efficiency in industrial environments. The platform is made up of 2 solutions, PAS Automation Integrity and PAS Cyber Integrity. The platform provides comprehensive capabilities for managing and securing Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT). By implementing PAS Cyber Integrity and PAS Automation Integrity, organizations can achieve a higher level of cybersecurity, operational reliability, and regulatory compliance, ultimately protecting their critical infrastructure from evolving cyber threats.