Critical Infrastructure and Operational Technology (OT) security focus on protecting the systems and assets that are essential for the functioning of critical sectors such as energy, transportation, manufacturing, water supply, and more. These sectors rely on interconnected industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, and other technologies to manage and control their operations. Given the potential impact of security breaches in these areas, ensuring their security is of paramount importance.
Symosis Critical Infrastructure and OT risk assessments cover the following key areas
Asset Inventory
Create an inventory of all critical assets, including industrial control systems, network components, endpoints, and physical devices.
Network Segmentation
Segment your OT network to isolate critical systems and limit lateral movement in case of a breach.
Access Control
Implement strict access controls and role-based access to prevent unauthorized personnel from accessing critical systems.
Air Gap or Demilitarized Zones (DMZ)
Consider using air-gapped networks or DMZs to physically or logically isolate critical systems from the corporate network and the internet.
Patch and Update Management
Implement a rigorous patch and update management process for all OT systems to address known vulnerabilities.
Anomaly Detection and Monitoring
Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) and continuous monitoring to detect unusual activities or anomalies within the OT environment.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
Deploy a SIEM solution to aggregate and analyze security events, enabling rapid incident response.
Vendor and Third-Party Security
Assess the security of third-party vendors and suppliers who have access to your OT systems.
Physical Security
Implement physical security measures to restrict unauthorized physical access to critical infrastructure locations.
Data Protection
Implement encryption for data in transit and at rest within the OT environment.
Incident Response Plan
Develop a comprehensive incident response plan specific to OT systems, including steps to isolate compromised systems and restore operations.
Personnel Training
Train employees and operators on OT security best practices, including recognizing social engineering threats and suspicious activities.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Develop robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans to ensure the rapid restoration of critical operations in case of disruptions.
Regulatory Compliance
Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards specific to critical infrastructure sectors.
Threat Intelligence
Stay updated with threat intelligence relevant to your sector to understand emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
Security by Design
Consider security from the outset when designing and implementing new OT systems or making changes to existing systems.
Risk Assessment
Regularly conduct risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities and assess the impact of security breaches.
Collaboration
Foster collaboration between IT and OT teams to align security practices and share insights on threats and vulnerabilities.
Given the increasing digitization and connectivity of critical infrastructure, ensuring strong security measures is essential to safeguarding the operations, safety, and resilience of these vital sectors. Regular assessments, employee training, and collaboration with cybersecurity experts can help mitigate risks and protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
