- Securing Things Newsletter
- Posts
- Complexity Ain't an Excuse for OT/ICS Insecurity - Here's How to Lock It Down!
Complexity Ain't an Excuse for OT/ICS Insecurity - Here's How to Lock It Down!
[Securing Things by M. Yousuf Faisal]
M. Yousuf Faisal
October 20, 2024
Disclaimer: All views presented here, in this newsletter, are my own.
Author or the newsletter are not liable for any actions taken by any individual or any organization / business / entity. The information provided is for education and awareness purposes only and is not specific to any business and or situation.
Table of Contents
Complexity as an Excuse:
When it comes to Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS), the landscape is complex - no question. But here’s the harsh truth: complexity should never be an excuse for insecurity. With more OT systems getting connected and exposed, cybercriminals are lurking, waiting to exploit any vulnerabilities.
It’s often argued that there’s engineering involved, physical processes, health and safety issues, needs more budget, tools, resources and specialised skills, without these, you can’t start an OT Cybersecurity program for a secure your OT/ICS network operations.
It’s time to stop the excuses and start protecting the heart of your industrial operations. Let’s talk solutions.
Special Message:
Before we begin, do me a favour and make sure you hit the “Subscribe” button to let me know that you care and keep me motivated to publish more. Thanks!
In partnership with:
Daily News for Curious Minds
“I stopped watching the news, so sick of the bias. Was searching for an alternative that would just tell me WHAT happened, with NO editorializing. I found it. It’s called 1440. It assumes you are smart enough to form your own opinions.”
Complexity is NOT a Free Pass
Ok, we all get it - managing OT/ICS environments can be / feel overwhelming. From legacy systems to incompatible protocols, it’s a lot. But attackers thrive in complexity. Failing to secure these systems isn’t just risky; it’s business-critical.
🚨 What’s at Risk? 🚨
Production Downtime: a breach can halt operations for days. (btw, an non-cyber incident can cause the same impact/consequence).
Safety Incidents: Compromised control systems can lead to unsafe working conditions.
Reputation Damage: A cyberattack on your OT/ICS systems can damage customer trust, costing you much more than money.
In the following sections we’ll cover:
👉 Key Concepts = Industry 3.0 & 4.0, Diff b/w 3.0 vs. 4.0, IIOT, Digital Transformation, UNS.
👉 Global survey insights vs. real-world ransomware incident vs. real world case study of a global business operations (I was engaged with).
👉 Start OT/ICS Cybersecurity Journey = how do you start the journey & what to expect?
👉 Elevate your OT/ICS Cybersecurity Posture = focus on few example quick wins to kick-start program.
Join Securing Things Newsletter
Reply