Industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) are the backbone of modern civilization, powering essential operations like power grids and water treatment facilities. 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. These sophisticated systems control and monitor vital industrial processes, ensuring national security, economic stability, and public health.
Due to their critical nature, ICS are prime targets for cyber-attacks, which can lead to devastating consequences such as power outages, supply chain disruptions, environmental disasters, injuries, and loss of life. Recently, there’s been a 50% increase in ICS-focused ransomware attacks , and as global infrastructure becomes increasingly interconnected, the risk of cyber-attacks will continue to rise.
Fortify Your ICS Security Program and Safeguard Operations
Download the SANS ICS Strategy Guide
Discover essential steps to enhance your security program and protect your operations with the SANS ICS strategy guide. This comprehensive resource will help you:
- Implement ICS/OT-Specific Security Measures: Develop and enforce tailored controls specifically designed to protect critical infrastructure. Acknowledge that traditional IT security measures are insufficient for these environments.
- Proactively Address the ICS Threat Landscape: Prioritize defenses against high-impact, low-frequency (HILF) attacks, ransomware, and supply chain threats. Ensure even non-critical ICS facilities are prepared to handle potential cyber risks.
- Focus on Safety and Operational Continuity in ICS/OT Security: Emphasize safety, system integrity, and operational continuity in your security strategy. Cultivate a strong safety culture and align cybersecurity initiatives with engineering operations to protect both people and processes.
- Adopt and Exercise the Five ICS Cybersecurity Critical Controls: Prepare for the rapidly increasing volume, velocity, and sophistication of ICS-related attacks. Adopt an ICS/OT security framework using the five critical controls as a roadmap to build a robust, tailored security program that is ready for when – not if – a control system compromise occurs.
- Leverage AI: Integrate artificial intelligence (AI) to augment threat detection and incident response capabilities. Ensure human oversight is maintained over all AI activities.
- Foster IT and ICS Collaboration: Promote collaboration between IT and ICS teams. Ensure ICS engineers lead the security efforts and IT provides necessary support and complementary skills.
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 understand the critical importance of approaching ICS security as a business-critical function. ICS security is distinct from IT security and requires specialized training and a proactive approach to safeguarding critical infrastructure. By understanding the risks and implementing comprehensive, ICS-specific security strategies that prioritize safety, organizations can better protect engineering operations and enhance resilience globally.