In the digital world we live in now, businesses depend heavily on technology to streamline operations, boost productivity, and make their operations more efficient overall.
But as people have become more dependent on systems that work together, the risk of online threats has grown exponentially. Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to take advantage of weaknesses, and operational technology (OT), simply known as OT security, is one area that needs special attention.
What is OT cybersecurity?
OT cybersecurity refers to the practices, tactics, and technologies used to protect operational technology environments.
It means keeping cyber threats away from crucial infrastructure systems like industrial control systems (ICS), supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA), and programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
OT Vs. IT
OT refers to the hardware and software systems that monitor and control physical processes in the manufacturing, energy, transportation, and healthcare industries. It includes industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA systems, and PLCs. OT focuses on managing critical infrastructure and ensuring operational continuity.
On the other hand, IT deals with managing and processing digital information, including data storage, communication networks, software development, and cybersecurity. IT systems primarily handle data management, information exchange, and supporting business processes.
While OT and IT have different purposes, they are increasingly converging due to technological advancements. This convergence presents both opportunities and challenges regarding cybersecurity and operational efficiency.
Why is OT cybersecurity Important?
A successful cyber attack on OT systems can result in substantial damages, production disruptions, financial losses, and even risk human lives.
To mitigate these risks, organizations should prioritize implementing robust OT cybersecurity measures. This includes deploying advanced security solutions like firewalls and intrusion detection systems, conducting regular vulnerability assessments, and promptly addressing identified weaknesses.
By investing in OT cybersecurity, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to protecting critical assets, build trust with stakeholders, and gain a competitive advantage in today’s interconnected landscape. Prioritizing the security of OT systems is crucial for mitigating cyber threats, ensuring operational continuity, and safeguarding sensitive information.
In this article, we’ll discuss how vital OT cybersecurity is and give you valuable tips for keeping your business’s assets safe.
5 Key Strategies and Best Practices to Safeguard Your Business Assets
Business assets are a company’s valuable tools to run its business and make money. Intangible assets include intellectual property, trademarks, and customer databases.
Tangible assets include tools, buildings, and inventory. Intangible assets can’t be seen, touched, or measured as easily as tangible assets can, but they still have a lot of value. Cyber threats can happen to both types of things.
Theft or unauthorized access can happen to intangible assets, while cyber attacks that target critical systems or infrastructure can damage or disrupt tangible assets.
Develop a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy
A good defense against cyber threats needs to start with a solid cybersecurity plan. Start by thoroughly assessing your business’s weaknesses and figuring out what risks it might face. This evaluation should look at your current IT infrastructure, data storage, access points, employee practices, and any security measures already in place.
Once you know the risks, you can make a plan that includes preventive measures, incident handling guidelines, and employee training. Think about working with a reputable cybersecurity company to help you develop and implement a plan that fits the needs of your business.
Implement Robust Access Controls
Controlling who can get into your private data and systems is necessary to stop people from getting in without permission and causing data breaches.
Use robust authentication methods, like two-factor (2FA) or biometric authentication, to ensure that only authorized people can access vital resources. Also, follow the principle of least privilege (PoLP) by giving workers and third-party vendors the least access they need to do their jobs.
Review and change access rights often to match each employee’s job and responsibilities. Limiting entry makes it less likely that an insider or someone from the outside will get in without permission.
Keep Software and Systems Updated
Date Software and systems are often the weakest links in the security chain. Hackers use holes in old software to get into systems without permission or to start attacks.
Set up a proactive patch management method to ensure all software and systems have the latest security patches and updates. This will help reduce the risk.
Monitor vendor websites, security alerts, and news sources to learn about possible security holes and patches affecting your infrastructure. Automated tools for patch management can speed up this process and help you keep up with the necessary changes.
Educate and Train Your Employees
Most computer breaches happen because of mistakes made by people. Employees who don’t know about potential risks and don’t get the proper training could accidentally become targets or put your business’s security at risk.
Create a full cybersecurity training and awareness program to teach your workers about best practices and possible threats. Teach your workers how to spot phishing emails, make strong passwords, and avoid websites or downloads that look sketchy.
Encourage them to tell you anything that seems odd right away. Reinforce your cybersecurity policies regularly and offer ongoing training to update your employees on new threats and security practices.
Regularly Backup and Encrypt Data
Any business can suffer a lot if they lose their data. Set up a regular backup plan to protect critical data and ensure it can be brought back to life in case of a hack or system failure.
You should use cloud-based backup options for secure and automatic backups. Encryption is another important way to keep your info safe.
Encrypt private data both while it is being sent and while it is being stored to stop unauthorized access. Encryption changes data into code that can’t be read, and only people who know how to decrypt it can read it.
Why Are OT Environments Particularly Vulnerable To Cyber Attacks?
OT environments face unique vulnerabilities due to their critical nature and often outdated technology. Many OT systems were built without concrete security measures, which makes them easy to hack.
By making OT cybersecurity a top priority, doing risk assessments, putting in place a defense-in-depth strategy, keeping systems up to date, and educating workers, you can make your OT environments much safer. Remember that safety is an ongoing process that must be constantly watched, changed, and improved.
OT (Operational Technology) and IT (Information Technology) are two distinct domains that play crucial roles in modern organizations.
Conclusions
In the digital age, protecting business assets means ensuring operational technology (OT) settings have strong cybersecurity measures. Because OT systems have unique problems, like old infrastructure, and are very important, companies must put OT security at the top of their list.
Businesses can improve the security of their OT environments by using best practices, doing risk assessments, keeping up to date on the latest security measures, and raising employee knowledge.
With preventative and thorough OT cybersecurity strategies in place, organizations can effectively deal with cyber threats, make sure operations continue, and protect their valuable assets in a digital world that is constantly changing.