Fortify Your ICS Security Program and Safeguard Operations

Why Securing ICS/OT Environments Is Business-Critical

Industrial control systems (ICS), vital to national security and public safety, have seen a 50% surge in ransomware attacks, underscoring their critical vulnerability. Yet only 52% of ICS facilities have a documented and regularly tested ICS/OT-specific incident response plan. Even non-critical infrastructure sectors face significant cyber risks, as adversaries often target smaller, less-prepared facilities to hone their attack techniques before launching more devastating assaults on sensitive environments. This highlights the urgent need for robust ICS-specific security measures across all sectors.

Is your organization prepared?

Discover essential steps to enhance your security program and protect your operations with the SANS ICS strategy guide. This comprehensive resource will help you:

1. Implement ICS/OT-Specific Security Measures: Develop tailored controls for ICS environments, recognizing that traditional IT security measures are insufficient for critical infrastructure.
2. Address ICS Threats Proactively: Prioritize defenses against HILF attacks, ransomware, and supply chain threats, ensuring even non-critical ICS facilities are prepared.
3. Focus on Safety and Continuity: Align cybersecurity with engineering operations to emphasize safety, system integrity, and operational continuity, fostering a strong safety culture.
4. Adopt ICS Cybersecurity Controls: Implement the five critical controls for ICS/OT security to prepare for the growing volume and sophistication of attacks, ensuring resilience against inevitable compromises.
5. Leverage AI: Use AI to enhance threat detection and response, while maintaining human oversight.
6. Foster IT - ICS Collaboration: Encourage cooperation between IT and ICS teams, with ICS engineers leading security efforts and IT providing support.

While we can't control the cyber threat landscape, we can control how we defend against and respond to it. Download the SANS ICS strategy guide, ICS Is the Business, to learn why ICS security is a business-critical function that requires specialized training and a proactive approach. Unlike traditional IT security, ICS security must prioritize safety and operational continuity to safeguard critical infrastructure. By understanding the risks and implementing tailored, comprehensive security strategies, organizations can better protect engineering operations and enhance global resilience.