What is CISA’s “Secure by Demand” Guide and What Does it Mean for You

Originally published here: https://takepoint.co/analysis/what-is-cisas-secure-by-demand-guide-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you/

Cyberattacks on industrial environments are increasing in frequency and sophistication. They are now targeting critical infrastructure in sectors like energy, manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation. These threats exploit widespread vulnerabilities like legacy systems and insecure configurations, making it imperative for OT stakeholders to prioritize security from the outset.

The newly released “Secure by Demand” guide, developed collaboratively by CISA, global cybersecurity agencies, and industry leaders, provides a roadmap for OT owners and operators to incorporate security considerations into their procurement processes. Titled “Secure by Demand: Priority Considerations for Operational Technology Owners and Operators When Selecting Digital Products,” this framework highlights actionable steps and best practices based on Secure by Design and Secure by Default principles.

In this week’s blog, we’ll examine its implications for the broader OT market, assessing how it influences vendor accountability, regulatory alignment, and long-term infrastructure resilience. We’ll also evaluate the key benefits for prospective OT asset owners and operators, considering how this framework may shape cybersecurity standards moving forward.

What are the key security considerations?

The “Secure by Demand” guide identifies 12 priority considerations to create a blueprint for OT procurement. These considerations highlight a growing emphasis on embedding security throughout the product lifecycle—from design and development to deployment and ongoing maintenance.

What are the main points of the guide??

Below are four of the main focuses of ‘Secure by Demand,’ along with a brief explanation of each one.?

1. Strengthened ecosystem collaboration

“Secure by Demand” encourages a cohesive ecosystem among vendors, regulatory bodies, and end-users. Alignment with established frameworks like ISA/IEC 62443, the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and other global standards drives consistency and maturity in OT security practices.

2. Increased vendor accountability

The guidance explicitly shifts responsibility to manufacturers to embed security throughout product development. As a result, there may be:

• Competitive differentiation: as vendors that proactively align with “Secure by Demand” can stand out as trusted partners.
• Innovation: which is encouraged by the development of advanced security features—from automated patching solutions to zero-trust architectures—differentiating market players on cybersecurity merit.

3. Improved resilience in critical infrastructure

By focusing on secure procurement, organizations replace outdated equipment with more secure alternatives over time. Critical infrastructure sectors gain:

• Reduced downtime: as robust default configurations and streamlined patch processes minimize operational disruptions.
• Enhanced public safety: as incident containment and recovery capabilities help prevent real-world hazards in vital services like energy and healthcare.

4. Compliance with regulatory frameworks

The recommendations align with new and forthcoming regulations, including:

• EU NIS2 directive: which reinforces requirements for incident reporting and supply chain security.
• Cyber Resilience Act: which outlines accountability measures for tech providers, ensuring OT products meet baseline security levels. By adhering to “Secure by Demand” principles, organizations position themselves favorably for compliance, reducing the risk of legal and financial penalties.

And what about the customer advantages?

By adopting the “Secure by Demand” principles, organizations not only enhance their security posture but also unlock several key advantages that benefit both operations and procurement strategies. These advantages include:

Strategic risk mitigation:

Buyers gain a defined set of criteria to evaluate product security, mitigating the hidden risks of insecure defaults or inadequate vendor support. Likewise, there is reduced exposure as products designed under Secure by Default principles minimize the number of exploitable avenues in OT environments.

Cost optimization:

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) may be lower as investments in secure-by-design products reduce the need for retrofit solutions and can decrease post-incident recovery costs. This also leads to more predictable budgeting as transparency in vendor patching and lifecycle support allows organizations to forecast operational and maintenance expenses more accurately.

Confidence in procurement:

Clearer documentation, including more detailed product security roadmaps, helps buyers verify product readiness, avoid potential lock-in, and negotiate strong service-level agreements. Additionally, visibility into secure development practices and patch timelines fosters trust and collaboration, leading to stronger vendor relationships and overall more sustainable partnerships.

What does this mean for the future?

As the principles of “Secure by Demand” become more popular, they are set to reshape the future of procurement and industrial cybersecurity. This shift will have far-reaching implications, driving changes across industries and influencing how security is integrated into technology ecosystems. Here’s what the future may hold:

Widespread adoption of “Secure by Demand”

As procurement practices shift, OT buyers are likely to favor vendors demonstrating strong adherence to “Secure by Demand.” Over time, security will become a market differentiator, propelling vendors who invest in robust protective measures to the forefront.

Regulatory convergence

Global cybersecurity standards and regulations will increasingly converge around a secure-from-the-start model. This unification will influence procurement strategies beyond critical infrastructure, impacting IoT devices and other emerging technology domains.

Greater focus on lifecycle management

Security will extend beyond the initial purchase and deployment, encompassing real-time monitoring, patch management, and proactive threat modeling throughout the product’s operational life. Vendors offering holistic lifecycle support will gain competitive advantage.

Ecosystem evolution

Industry collaboration will deepen as co-development initiatives and shared threat intelligence between suppliers, integrators, and operators will foster a more unified and responsive security community, further solidifying the “Secure by Demand” ethos.

To wrap things up…

“Secure by Demand” presents a transformative framework for OT procurement and marks a pivotal step toward shifting security from an afterthought to a core design requirement. By integrating “Secure by Design” and “Secure by Default” principles, this initiative not only addresses immediate threats but also lays the groundwork for a more resilient future in critical infrastructure.

For OT Asset owners and operators, adopting these guidelines allows for clearer risk assessments, optimized costs, and stronger bargaining power when engaging with vendors. Meanwhile, for vendors, compliance with these recommendations ensures competitive differentiation and regulatory readiness, ultimately driving meaningful innovation in a market where resilience is paramount.?

As the global OT ecosystem continues to evolve, “Secure by Demand” will likely become a cornerstone for robust, future-proof infrastructure—consolidating security as a business imperative rather than a discretionary add-on. I’m very excited to see what the future now holds thanks to these latest guidelines and I hope you are too!?