Combining Secure Functionality and Cyber Defense in Industrial Control Infrastructure
In today's interconnected world, the convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) is revolutionising industrial automation. This merging of digital and physical worlds offers numerous advantages, chief among them the synergies and similarities between OT and IT, which can lead to increased efficiency and productivity.
However, this convergence also presents challenges, particularly in the realm of safety and security. As the number of connected devices grows, so too does the technology's vulnerability. It is, therefore, essential for industrial control systems to prioritise safety and security from the outset.
Integrating functional safety with cybersecurity in the design process can help navigate the complexities of legacy systems. To counter this complication, more robust digital security measures are required as the trend toward interconnectedness continues.
Best practices for integrating OT and IT safety and security focus on a comprehensive approach addressing people, processes, and technology. Here are some key best practices:
- Risk Assessment and Asset Management: Identify and map all critical OT assets, such as SCADA, PLCs, RTUs, HMIs, alongside IT assets. Continuously assess vulnerabilities to understand interdependencies and threats.
- Network Segmentation and Zero Trust Architectures: Separate OT and IT networks using segmentation strategies, DMZs, and firewalls while enabling secure communication. Apply strict access controls such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), with continuous monitoring to reduce risk.
- Secure Access, Supply Chain Management, and System Hardening: Control remote access securely via VPNs and jump servers; conduct thorough vendor and supply chain security assessments; harden OT systems by applying patches, endpoint protections, and authentication measures to prevent intrusion and tampering.
- Integrated Threat Detection and Incident Response: Use real-time monitoring combined with anomaly detection tailored for OT environments, leveraging ICS-specific threat intelligence. Incident response plans should balance cybersecurity urgency with operational safety, following standards like NIST or NCA OTCC guidelines.
- Compliance and Regulatory Alignment: Align security strategies with standards such as IEC 62443, NIST 82-800, and NCA OTCC. Regular audits and penetration tests help identify and close security gaps while maintaining operational compliance.
- Workforce Training and Cyber Hygiene: Train personnel in cybersecurity awareness, incident detection, and response. Conduct drills like Red/Blue team exercises and ensure vendor and contractor security practices meet organisational standards.
- Integration of Cybersecurity with Physical and Process Safety: Cybersecurity controls must complement physical safety systems and process controls, ensuring safety objectives are not compromised by cyber defenses and that risk analyses cover both physical and cyber hazards.
- Adopt Open and Modular Architectures: Embrace modular, open standards-based control systems to enhance interoperability, facilitate easier patching, and support emerging technologies like AI and digital twins to improve resilience and operational intelligence.
- Invest in Data Governance and Infrastructure: Build robust data platforms treating data as a strategic asset, with strong governance to enable secure cross-domain analytics and AI applications across IT and OT domains.
In essence, these best practices emphasise a unified security posture combining IT cybersecurity rigour with OT operational safety, continuous cross-team collaboration, and adherence to industry security frameworks to protect industrial control systems effectively.
Moreover, the convergence of OT and IT provides a unified view of industrial automation control systems, with standards for OT and IT safety and security development designed to allow for simultaneous progress, facilitating faster compliance and reducing time to market. By following these best practices, industries can reap the benefits of this convergence while mitigating the associated risks.
Industrial control systems need to integrate functional safety with cybersecurity in their design process to navigate the complexities of legacy systems and provide a unified view of industrial automation control systems. Implementing robust digital security measures, such as risk assessment, network segmentation, secure access, threat detection, and compliance with industry standards, are crucial to ensuring the safety and security of industrial automation control systems.
