Combining Safe Operational Functions and Cyber Protection in Industrial Automation
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the merging of digital and physical worlds presents a host of opportunities for industrial control systems. However, this convergence also brings about significant risks to safety-critical devices without adequate cybersecurity protection.
To navigate this complex terrain, prioritizing safety and security is crucial. This is particularly important in the context of the convergence of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT). The increasing interconnectedness of devices makes the technology more vulnerable, and more robust digital security measures are necessary.
A parallel development of OT and IT safety and security can help address these challenges. This strategy allows for simultaneous development and similar methodologies in both fields, which can be beneficial for navigating the complexities of legacy systems. It also helps balance new product functionality with security needs and manage costs associated with design changes.
The current best practices for integrating OT and IT safety and security focus on a comprehensive, layered approach. This includes:
- Risk Assessment and Asset Management: Identifying and classifying critical OT assets, performing continuous vulnerability management, and mapping dependencies to detect points of failure.
- Network Segmentation and Zero Trust Architecture: Separating IT and OT networks, enforcing strict access controls, and employing multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, and dedicated gateways.
- Secure Access and Supply Chain Management: Using secure remote access methods, assessing vendors rigorously, and hardening systems with patching and endpoint protection.
- Threat Detection and Incident Response: Employing real-time monitoring, anomaly detection, and ICS-specific threat intelligence. Incident response should balance speed with operational safety.
- Compliance and Regulatory Alignment: Following international standards and conducting regular audits and penetration tests to identify and mitigate security gaps.
- Workforce Training and Cyber Hygiene: Training OT and IT staff to recognize threats and escalate incidents properly.
- Process Safety and Physical Security Integration: Aligning cybersecurity measures with physical safety and process hazard analyses.
- Adoption of Open, Modular Architectures and Interoperability Standards: Transitioning to modular control systems based on open standards to enable easier patching, integration, and enhanced security.
- Utilization of Advanced Technologies: Investing in dynamic digital twins, edge control, and hybrid AI/physics models to improve real-time situational awareness.
- Integration of OT into Security Operations (SecOps): Elevating OT security accountability to executive levels and incorporating OT systems into the broader IT security operations framework.
By adopting these practices, industrial control systems can prioritize safety and security from the outset in the merging of digital and physical worlds, ensuring the protection of safety-critical devices and mitigating the risks that escalate in this converged environment.
In the integration of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT), adopting a comprehensive, layered approach to cybersecurity is essential. This strategy includes risk assessment and asset management, network segmentation and zero trust architecture, secure access and supply chain management, threat detection and incident response, compliance and regulatory alignment, workforce training and cyber hygiene, and integration of OT into Security Operations (SecOps). By focusing on these practices, industrial automation can be secured using control systems that reduce risks to safety-critical devices in the digital-physical convergence, relying on technology for improved safety while mitigating potential cyber threats.
