Aditya Nepalia’s Post

Why is OT cybersecurity in energy so challenging? Unlike IT, OT security has to prioritize physical safety and operational continuity. Here’s how OT security differs and why it matters 👇 In IT, cybersecurity is primarily about protecting data. But in OT (Operational Technology), it’s about safeguarding the infrastructure that directly controls critical operations, from pipelines to power grids. A cyber incident in OT could disrupt essential processes or even endanger lives, as we saw in the 2021 Oldsmar water plant hack, where attackers attempted to manipulate water chemical levels. However, securing OT environments isn’t straightforward. These systems often run on legacy technologies that are limited in their ability to perform frequent updates, have strict uptime requirements, and were not initially designed with cybersecurity in mind. To address these unique challenges, OT cybersecurity strategies focus on: 1️⃣ Real-Time Monitoring: Detecting issues before they escalate. 2️⃣ Network Segmentation: Isolating critical systems to minimize exposure. 3️⃣ Lifecycle Management: Balancing system age and availability needs with modern security practices. In short, unlike IT, OT cybersecurity must prioritize continuous operations and safety, making protection strategies complex yet essential. How is your organization addressing these unique OT security challenges? Share your insights below! #energy #cybersecurity

🔒 Securing the Future of Industrial Operations with OT Cybersecurity 🔌 As industries become more connected, protecting Operational Technology (OT) systems is more crucial than ever. From manufacturing plants to power grids, OT systems control vital infrastructure that powers our world. But with increased connectivity comes greater risk. Why OT Security Matters: Protects critical infrastructure from cyberattacks 🔐 Safeguards against operational disruptions and safety hazards ⚠️ Ensures compliance with industry standards and regulations 🛡️ What to Look for in OT Security Solutions: Real-time threat monitoring & incident response ⏱️ Seamless integration with IT security systems 🌐 Legacy system compatibility & risk management 📉 Robust endpoint protection and anomaly detection ⚙️ In today’s digital landscape, securing your OT environment isn't just an option – it's a necessity. Partner with the right OT security provider to ensure operational continuity, protect sensitive data, and defend against evolving cyber threats. Ready to take your OT security to the next level? Let’s talk! #OTSecurity #Cybersecurity #IndustrialControlSystems #Energy #Manufacturing #SmartGrids #TechInnovation #RiskManagement #Compliance

**The Importance of Cybersecurity Resilience: Lessons from CrowdStrike's 97% Recovery** On July 25, 2024, cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike faced a significant challenge when a major outage affected their widely used sensors. Impressively, they restored 97% of the impacted sensors, showcasing the robustness of their incident response strategies. This incident highlighted the importance of rapid action, customer communication, and the implementation of sophisticated troubleshooting protocols. CrowdStrike's prompt response involved mobilizing their Incident Response Team to identify and correct the error, continuous customer updates, and ensuring data safety and integrity. The quick recovery of sensors has helped to restore customer trust and outline key lessons for the cybersecurity industry. These include the necessity of redundant systems, regular maintenance, and transparent communication during crises. **Next Steps:** Want to understand more about optimizing your tax-saving strategies? Reach out to Together CFO or set up a call by clicking https://lnkd.in/gEhBUk3S.

I was recently accused of being anti-technology when considering security mitigation measures. I initially felt offended and then I realised that my statements and perspective can be interpreted that way. I want to state it very clearly that I am not anti-tech. I am against applying technology for the sake of “compliance” or without consideration on getting the real benefit from it. So what exactly is my problem: 1. Applying IT developed security technology in an industrial setting without testing and confirming that it meets industrial considerations. 2. Concentrating on IT derived systems (so called OT) and especially ethernet based networks without considering the control/automation/protection systems that is the core of cyber physical systems. 3. Hyping up the danger of external, intentional and malicious threats. Ignoring the fact that by far the biggest percentage of incidents are non-malicious insiders or equipment malfunction. 4. Punting of a solution as being completely unique and the only one that can solve your specific problem. 5. The acceptance that IT and OT need to be highly integrated and cloud connection is inevitable. I understand that plant owners are highly dependant on vendor systems for reliability and optimisation analisys, but if your vendor requires direct connection from the control network directly to the cloud without the possibility of using a proxy, then there is something inherently wrong with their product. 6. Application of technology without understanding what you want to protect, your asset base, what the risks are you want to mitigate, or how your processes and personnel will support and maintain such a technology is a waste of resources. To finish off this rambling discourse. Technology is critical in securing industrial systems, but it only forms part of the solution and you need to understand the limitations and aims within an industrial context. #otsecurity #industrialcontrol #technology #cybersecurity

⭕️ Why is OT security important now? OT security is more critical than ever due to: 🟡 Increased Connectivity: Industrial systems are increasingly connected to IT networks and the internet, expanding the attack surface. 🔴 Evolving Threats: Cyberattacks targeting OT are becoming more sophisticated and can have devastating real-world impacts. 🟣 Legacy Systems: Many OT environments rely on older technology with limited built-in security, making them easy targets. 🟠 Regulations: Growing government and industry regulations are mandating stronger OT security measures. ⭕️ What are best practices for strengthening OT security? Essential best practices include: ✅️ Asset Identification: Develop a comprehensive inventory of all OT hardware and software. ✅️ Network Segmentation: Isolate OT networks from IT networks whenever possible to limit the impact of breaches. ✅️ Risk Assessments: Conduct regular risk assessments to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities. ✅️ Incident Response: Have a clear incident response plan for OT cyberattacks. ✅️ IT/OT Collaboration: Foster a culture of cooperation and shared responsibility for security. 📌 source: Verve Industrial, A Rockwell Automation Company #otsecurity #otcybersecurity #riskmanagement #industrialcybersecurity

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗖𝗦 𝗢𝗧 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 🔒 As Industries become increasingly digitized, securing Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) is paramount. 🛡️ Here's why: 𝟏. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: ICS and OT systems control crucial operations in energy, manufacturing, and transportation sectors. Ensuring their security safeguards against potential disruptions, protecting essential services we rely on daily. 𝟐. 𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬: The interconnected nature of ICS and OT exposes them to cyber threats like ransomware, espionage, and sabotage. Robust cybersecurity measures are essential to thwart these threats and maintain operational integrity. 𝟑. 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲: Compromised ICS and OT systems can have severe consequences, ranging from environmental disasters to endangering lives. Prioritizing cybersecurity measures safeguards public safety and minimizes risks to communities. 𝟒. 𝐔𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲: Cyberattacks targeting ICS and OT can disrupt operations, leading to financial losses and reputational damage. By investing in cybersecurity, organizations ensure uninterrupted operations and maintain trust with stakeholders. 𝟓. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Adhering to cybersecurity standards and regulations is not just about avoiding fines; it's about upholding industry best practices and demonstrating a commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and sensitive data. In conclusion, the importance of ICS OT cybersecurity cannot be overstated. By investing in robust security measures, organizations protect themselves and contribute to the resilience of critical infrastructure and the safety of society as a whole. #CyberSecurity #ICS #OTSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #PublicSafety #consyst Consyst

🔒 Zero Trust Security in OT: The Future of Industrial Cyber Defense 🔒 As Operational Technology (OT) environments become more connected 🌐, traditional perimeter-based security is no longer sufficient. Zero Trust Security is the answer for safeguarding critical infrastructure and industrial systems from cyber threats. ⚙️ 🔑 Key Principles for OT Security: 1️⃣ Least Privilege Access: Provide operators, devices, and applications with only the access they need to minimize potential attack points. 2️⃣ Verification: Every request for access—whether it’s coming from internal systems or external sources—is thoroughly verified. 3️⃣ Micro-Segmentation: Break down the OT network into smaller zones to contain threats and prevent lateral movement across industrial systems. 4️⃣ Continuous Monitoring: Track and validate users and devices in real-time to detect anomalies in OT environments. 5️⃣ Data Security: Protect sensitive operational data in transit and at rest with encryption and stringent access controls. 6️⃣ Policy Enforcement: Ensure security policies are uniformly applied to all devices and users, regardless of location. 🚀 Benefits for OT: ✅ Reduced Risk: Mitigate the chance of security breaches by eliminating default trust for any user or device. ✅ Improved Visibility: Continuous monitoring provides greater insight into system activities, enhancing real-time threat detection. ✅ Enhanced Compliance: Strengthen your ability to meet industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., NERC CIP, IEC 62443). In an age where OT and IT are converging, Zero Trust Security offers a proactive defense strategy to protect your industrial systems and critical infrastructure. ⚙️🌐 #OTSecurity #ZeroTrust #CyberSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #IndustrialAutomation #ICS #ContinuousMonitoring #LeastPrivilege #DataProtection #Compliance #IIoT #OperationalTechnology Don’t miss out! Follow me and hit 🔔 for more insights on #IIoT, #SmartManufacturing, #OTCybersecurity, and #Industry40 trends!

Zero Trust: A Model to Secure Manufacturing in the Age of Convergence In today's interconnected world, manufacturing environments are becoming increasingly complex. Information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems are converging, creating a larger attack surface for cybercriminals. This convergence presents a unique challenge for manufacturers, who must grapple with cyberattacks, skills gaps, and legacy systems. The Zero Trust model is a security framework that can help manufacturers address these challenges. Zero Trust assumes that no device or user is inherently trustworthy. This approach requires all devices and users to be authenticated and authorized before they are granted access to resources. By implementing a Zero Trust model, manufacturers can regain control of their security posture and design a stronger security strategy. Here are some of the benefits of Zero Trust for manufacturers: ⚫ Reduced risk of cyberattacks ⚫ Improved compliance with industry regulations ⚫ Increased visibility into network activity ⚫ Enhanced security for critical infrastructure If you are a manufacturer looking to improve your cybersecurity posture, then the Zero Trust model is a great place to start. #cybersecurity #infosec #ITsecurity #cyberattack #manufacturing #industry40 #operationaltechnology #smartmanufacturing #zerotrustsecurity #Barnbrook

Operational Technology (OT) Security: A Growing Concern As digital transformation continues to integrate IT and OT environments, the security landscape is shifting—and so are the risks. While IT has long been a focus of cybersecurity, OT systems are becoming a prime target for cyberattacks. Why does this matter? - OT systems control critical infrastructure: energy grids, manufacturing lines, transportation systems, and more. - Many OT environments rely on legacy systems, not designed with modern cybersecurity in mind. - A breach in OT security could lead to *physical* damage, safety hazards, or large-scale disruptions. Key OT security challenges: - Lack of visibility into interconnected IT-OT environments - Vulnerabilities in aging OT infrastructure - Difficulty in patching OT systems without disrupting operations - Growing threat of ransomware targeting critical OT systems We can no longer afford to overlook OT security. Now is the time to bolster defenses and ensure our critical systems remain safe, resilient, and operational. #Cybersecurity #OTSecurity #OperationalTechnology #CriticalInfrastructure #ThreatDetection #DigitalTransformation

Securing Real-Time Operations Integrating TSN and Cybersecurity in Industrial Systems 【White Paper Download】 https://ow.ly/UFJP50STE8n In today's evolving industrial environment, integrating Time-Sensitive Networking ( #TSN ) with cybersecurity measures is crucial for improving operational efficiency and #security. This white paper delves into the structure, advantages, and obstacles of merging TSN with robust cybersecurity protocols. TSN offers deterministic, low-latency communication, which is vital for time-sensitive applications, while #cybersecurity ensures the protection of assets and the integrity of systems. The document explores the synergies and compromises between these technologies in various sectors such as transportation, energy, utilities, maritime, and #factory #automation. By adhering to standards like IEC 62443 and TS 50701, it offers a roadmap for optimizing performance and defending against #cyber #threats, empowering industries to navigate digital transformation confidently.