Historically, information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) environments were designed to operate independently, be managed separately by different teams with different objectives, and have zero connectivity between one another. These conditions, however, have changed dramatically over the past decade, largely due to the acceleration of digital transformation.
Organizations in all sectors have since become increasingly reliant on newer types of cyber-physical systems (CPS) and other technologies that both require and continue to expand connectivity between IT and OT. As a result, these previously disparate environments are converging, giving rise to undeniable business benefits, including greater efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. Unfortunately, this convergence is also fueling new risks and challenges — particularly when it comes to IT and OT cybersecurity.
What is the Difference Between IT Cybersecurity and OT Cybersecurity?
The main objective of any IT environment is to manage and process data and information and the various systems through which it flows. Examples of IT systems include servers, computers, software applications, and databases. The major responsibility of IT systems is to manage the data and information used to support business operations.
OT, on the other hand, is responsible for managing and controlling physical devices which are typically involved in the production or delivery of goods and services. Examples of OT systems include industrial control systems (ICS), sensors, robotics, and more that are used in critical infrastructure industries. The major responsibility of OT systems is to manage the control and automation of physical processes and the devices that are critical to business operations. To break it down in the simplest terms, IT is focused on data and communication while OT is concentrated on behaviors and outcomes.
What is IT/OT Convergence?
The integration of IT and OT systems have created more connectivity between these two previously disparate environments, leading to improved efficiency, increased visibility and control over operations, and better decision-making capabilities for an organization. A prime example of IT/OT convergence are industrial internet of things (IIoT) devices, which involves the connection of physical devices, sensors, and machines to IT networks, often via the cloud. These devices enable data collection, remote monitoring, and analysis of performance, which allows critical infrastructure organizations to improve automation, predict maintenance, and make real-time decisions.
This form of IT/OT convergence has allowed organizations to greatly accelerate their digital transformation initiatives. By converging IT and OT systems, organizations can further automate their processes to reduce human error, increase productivity, and streamline their operations. They can also gain deeper insights into their operations and make data-driven decisions with enhanced visibility into data. As a critical enabler of digital transformation, IT/OT convergence helps align operational processes with digital capabilities, changing the ways businesses deliver value. Although converged IT/OT brings the promise of cost savings and resource efficiencies, this rise in interconnectivity has also brought its share of challenges.
Cybersecurity Implications of IT/OT Convergence
IT and OT systems have very different security requirements and face unique cyberthreats, often causing IT and OT operations within an organization to be siloed. Specialized security controls and collaboration are required between IT and OT security teams to ensure their systems are protected against cyberthreats. To do this, organizations require security professionals who have expertise in both IT and OT security to ensure the safety and security of critical infrastructure and processes. Following these steps for a converged IT/OT security operations center (SOC) will allow your organization to present a unified front against attacks, and protect your environment in a holistic manner. These steps are also a great place to start when addressing the other implications the siloed nature of IT/OT convergence has led to, including:
IT and OT Were Never Intended to Be Connected
IT devices and systems were developed to manage and process information using computers and software. These devices were designed to be connected to the internet and have been secured to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. OT, on the other hand, was initially designed to manage and control physical devices and processes, and never intended to be connected to the internet—which is why those devices didn’t include built-in security measures. As digital transformation continues to flourish and more IT systems converge with OT devices, their interconnectivity has expanded the attack surface for cyber criminals, giving them new pathways into these inherently insecure OT environments.
Legacy Devices Create Cyber Risk
Amplifying the inherent insecurity of OT, many OT devices were built decades ago and typically communicate with one another via proprietary protocols that are largely incompatible with traditional IT security solutions. Due to the fragility and complexity of OT assets, it is difficult for them to handle the volume and type of traffic generated by traditional IT solutions. If a traditional IT security solution is used on an OT asset, it can result in disaster, as OT systems operate in real-time and cannot tolerate the latency associated with IT systems. Their incompatibility due to the differences in hardware, software, and communication protocols can cause disruptions to an OT system which can have immediate and severe impact on safety, productivity, and revenue.
Lack of Device Visibility and Granular Data
As noted above, the prevalence of legacy systems and proprietary communication protocols in OT environments make them largely incompatible with traditional IT solutions. Therefore, IT security teams typically have difficulty gaining a complete inventory of OT assets, making it impossible to identify and assess threats and vulnerabilities. Without granular device attributes such as the exact model, firmware version, and configuration, security teams will also find it difficult to match assets to common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs).
Protecting Against OT Vulnerabilities
OT vulnerabilities can be defined as CVEs, misconfigurations, or other security flaws in an OT system that have the potential to be exploited by a hacker to gain unfettered access or control over said systems. OT vulnerabilities can arise due to some of the following issues:
Lack of Segmentation:
If OT networks are not properly segmented, an attacker who gains access to one part of the network has the potential to move laterally through the entire OT environment.
Legacy and Outdated Software:
In critical infrastructure organizations, it’s common to have a mix of new and legacy devices in the environment. These legacy devices are many times running on outdated software that is no longer supported, leading to CVEs and other vulnerabilities.
Lack of Secure Access:
If remote access to OT by internal personnel and/or third-parties such as maintenance technicians or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is not properly controlled, monitored, and secured, attackers can exploit these conditions to gain unauthorized access over the system.
Poor Password Hygiene:
Weak passwords that can be easily guessed or are used across various personal and professional platforms make it simple for hackers to breach OT systems. Without visibility into user sessions, breaches can be difficult to identify and mitigate.
A Successful OT Security Framework
In the midst of IT/OT convergence, a successful cybersecurity framework demands greater collaboration between IT and OT teams, and a solution that can secure all CPS within the environment. As OT vulnerabilities continue to dominate the top impacts affecting industrial control systems, it is paramount that organizations act quickly to implement remediation efforts such as network segmentation and secure access. These security measures serve as the foundation for your overarching strategy and will lay the groundwork for a strong cybersecurity posture.
In the end, choosing the right partner matters. Every organization will have their own unique setup and needs that correspond to it, and there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to OT security. However, the Claroty Platform comes close. It takes the guesswork out of identifying network assets that can’t be protected until they’re discovered, and then gives recommendations for protection to each based on the potential business impact of an incident.
The advantages don’t stop there. Schedule a demo with one of our experts to see all features of the platform, and get your organization set up with an OT security program that works.
