Operational Technology
There was a time when Operational Technology (OT) teams felt relatively “safe” from cyberattacks on their systems, due to their proprietary software, air-gapped environments and legacy assets. But that is no longer the case.
In 2021, the Colonial Pipeline fell prey to a ransomware attack that interrupted fuel supplies to the southeastern US. In 2022, thousands of German wind turbines were also compromised by bad actors. These are just two of an increasing number of ransomware and denial of service attacks on OT around the world.
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Understanding the Differences Between IT and OT
Unlike Information Technology, which processes and manages data, Operational Technology refers to the hardware and software systems that control and monitor the machinery, equipment and infrastructure in factories, power plants and other critical industries. An attack on OT could shut down parts of the power grid, interrupt the water supply, disrupt supply chains or cripple manufacturing concerns.
Examples of Operational Technology (OT) include:
- Industrial Control Systems (ICS) that manage and monitor industrial processes
- Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) that automate industrial processes
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems that monitor and control processes in real-time, gathering data and enabling remote control
- Distributed Control Systems (DCS) that are used to control industrial automation
- Robotics that are used in industry
- Sensors that collect data about industrial processes
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The Implications of an OT Breach
While IT and OT are becoming increasingly connected and aligned, it’s important to note that what’s good for the goose may not be good for the gander. In the industrial setting, there are significant differences.
The implications of an OT breach are much greater than those of an IT breach. The operational environments are different, with OT having specialized equipment, legacy systems and less frequent updates. Their regulatory requirements are different as are the rates of technical change. And threat response is more complex in an OT environment. So while both share the common goal of protecting systems, the differences between them require a tailored approach to cybersecurity.
OT Presents Several Challenges to Securing Systems
Nearly 70% of industrial organizations have experienced a cyberattack on their Operational Technology in the past year. Of those, 1 in 4 result in a shutdown of operations. IT is the main attack vector, with 7 of 10 OT attacks originating in IT. The most frequent attacks are malware, ransomware and insider attacks.
With regulatory pressure growing on OT to adopt NIST and RMF standards, meet CMMC requirements and adopt Zero Trust principles, there are challenges OT teams must account for in order to secure systems.
Challenges OT teams must account for:
- Legacy systems and lack of frequent updates
- Limited visibility into devices and endpoints
- Downtime sensitivity and restricted patching schedules
- Segmented teams managing OT vs. IT environments
The disconnect between OT and IT teams is critical to address, with centralized operations and a shared responsibility. This relationship holds a lot of friction, but a siloed or piecemeal approach will not benefit either group, regardless of the caliber of solutions they implement.
Seven best practices for securing Operational Technology
As you consider your current state and how you want to mature your cybersecurity and align it with IT, consider these best practices as well:
Challenges OT teams must account for:
- Create an OT asset inventory and maintain visibility
- Prepare and test incident response plans
- Enforce strong access controls and authentication, and look for security solutions that address both IT and OT in a way that can be tailored to each
- Use network segmentation to isolate critical systems
- Establish secure remote access methods
- Monitor and log activity continuously
- Emphasize the importance of security throughout your supply chain
Reducing the Burden With the Use of Automation
The thing about cybersecurity is that the second you try to improve it, it starts getting out of hand. The amount of time and effort it takes is usually more than your current team can handle. And, since it’s a job that never ends, there’s always some vulnerability somewhere that goes unaddressed or slips down the priority list when attempting to manage security manually.
Standardized security roadmaps like Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and Center for Internet Security (CIS) Benchmarks can not only help you harden around vulnerabilities, they align with the goals and methods of IT. Both are based on NIST standards and position you to successfully complete mandated certification and assessment requirements. Better yet, both approaches are fully automatable for faster, more accurate results with less effort.
As you move toward maturing your program and lowering your risk, look for a scalable automation solution that is proven in complex environments. SteelCloud’s ConfigOS is the most proven end-to-end solution for implementing STIG and CIS Benchmarks. To see it in action and have a conversation about OT and IT security, arrange for a free demo. Just one small move like that could be the first step toward securing your Operational Technology to standards higher than you thought you could ever achieve with your current staff.
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