Securing hardware and software systems for power plants, water treatment facilities, transportation systems and other critical infrastructure requires network visibility, vulnerability assessments and overall strategic and incident response plans.
As the nation increasingly relies on technology to power critical infrastructure and government operations, the need to ensure operational technology becomes increasingly important. OT includes hardware and software systems used to control and monitor physical processes in power plants, water treatment facilities, transportation systems, and other critical infrastructure. These systems play a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of communities, and any disruption to their operation can have serious consequences.
The challenge in securing OT is that these systems are developed for reliability and security, not security. Many OT systems were developed decades ago and were not designed to connect to the Internet or other external networks. As a result, they often lack basic security features such as encryption, authentication, and access control. OT systems are also difficult to update or patch because they are often deeply embedded in the infrastructure and cannot be easily replaced or upgraded.
Despite these challenges, it is critical that security teams take steps to protect OT systems against cyberattacks and malicious threats. Here is a six-step plan to improve OT security and protect against modern threat vectors.
Start by identifying all devices and systems connected to the network, as well as any vulnerabilities or potential attack vectors. This information can then be used to develop a comprehensive security strategy that addresses the unique risks and challenges of each system.
Many organizations have large, complex networks that include extensive OT systems, often spanning multiple facilities and geographies. It's difficult to create an effective security plan if you don't know what's on your network. Additionally, many OT systems are not centrally managed, making it challenging to keep track of all devices and systems in use.
A common way to gain better visibility into OT systems and assets is to use network assessment tools, which can identify devices and systems based on IP addresses or other network identifiers. These tools can be configured to evaluate the entire network or a specific subset. They can provide detailed information about each device, including the make and model, operating system and installed software. However, security teams should ensure they choose proven or purpose-built tools for OT environments, as the wrong toolset can cause more damage.
Another method of discovery is to use passive network monitoring tools to identify devices and systems based on network traffic. These tools can detect and analyze network traffic to identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate the presence of an OT system. This method is particularly useful for identifying devices that may not be visible to network scanning tools, such as legacy systems that do not use standard network protocols. Passive monitoring also has limitations in OT deployments because many of these devices, while designed to operate in low-bandwidth environments, do not speak unless spoken to.
Once an asset has been discovered on the network, the next step is to assess its security posture and identify any Vulnerabilities or potential attack vectors. In addition to patch management, security teams must not only know where they are vulnerable to attacks, but also understand the relationships between assets, exposures, misconfigurations, privileges, and threats across attack paths. This information helps prioritize vulnerability remediation and other security efforts while freeing resources to focus on mission-critical efforts.
For this step, consider using a vulnerability assessment tool to identify known vulnerabilities in your software and operating system. These tools can also check for compliance with industry standards and best practices, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework or the ISA/IEC62443 security standard for industrial control systems.
Penetration testing is another important strategy. Penetration testing involves simulating a real-life attack on a system to identify weaknesses, such as misconfigurations or customer code vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Penetration testing can even reveal weaknesses specific to a specific OT environment.
Penetration testing is another important strategy. Penetration testing involves simulating a real-life attack on a system to identify weaknesses, such as misconfigurations or customer code vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. Penetration testing can even reveal weaknesses specific to a specific OT environment.
Combining automated vulnerability assessment tools with penetration testing is an effective “one-two-two” combination for identifying and prioritizing vulnerability mitigations.
Once a vulnerability has been identified, the next step is to develop a comprehensive security plan to address each unique risks and challenges of each system. This may involve implementing technical controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, privileged access management and encryption, as well as administrative controls such as access controls, security policies and procedures and security awareness training for employees.
It is also important to consider the physical security of your OT system. Physical security measures such as access control, video surveillance, and alarm systems can help prevent unauthorized access to OT systems and reduce the risk of physical damage or destruction.
Another important aspect of protecting OT systems is ensuring they are properly maintained and updated. This can be a challenge for many OT systems, as they can be difficult to update or patch without disrupting critical operations. However, failing to maintain OT systems can leave them vulnerable to known and unknown security vulnerabilities as well as hardware failures and other issues that can cause downtime and disruption. To address this challenge, organizations should develop a comprehensive maintenance and update plan that includes regular security updates, backups, and testing of OT systems.
In addition to proactive security measures, critical organizations need to develop a comprehensive incident response plan . The plan should be developed across teams and tested so that it can be executed effectively when needed. The plan should include a clear chain of command, procedures for isolating and containing affected systems, and procedures for communicating with stakeholders and responding to media inquiries.
Rapid response to security incidents in a coordinated manner gives organizations the opportunity to minimize the impact.
Finally, the industry cannot solve OT security issues in a vacuum. Cybersecurity, information security, and engineering teams within an organization must partner and collaborate to ensure security. These teams must agree on people, technology and processes, governance, standards and regulations, and more.
While IT security investments have grown dramatically over the past few decades, OT security spending has lagged behind. However, increases in OT security budgets often result in a much greater return than IT investments, primarily because OT security is such a low priority for many organizations.
Securing OT systems can be a complex and challenging task that requires a multifaceted approach that takes years to mature. However, the benefits of discovering assets on your network, assessing exposure and risk, and developing a comprehensive security plan that includes technical, administrative, and physical controls are well worth the time and investment.
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