OT Cyber Security: the IEC 62443 standard
In today’s era marked by hyper-connectivity and the proliferation of cost-effective electronic devices, the manufacturing industry stands at the crossroads between traditional SCADA architectures and the emerging realm of IoT and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things).
This convergence has spurred the imperative to embrace robust security measures. The recent IEC 62443-4-2 standard, a part of the esteemed IEC 62443 family, emerges as a guiding beacon for the cybersecurity of Industrial Automation Control Systems (IACS).
It delineates security requirements for each component, ranging from PLCs to sensors and actuators.
IEC 62443: “Guidelines for OT Cyber Security”
At the heart of this innovation lies the IEC 62443 standard, known as “Guidelines for Industrial Cybersecurity,” designed to safeguard industrial facilities and the critical data within them.
Addressing accidental and intentional risks, these guidelines aim to ensure confidentiality, availability, and integrity of the utilized data.
The document outlines four progressive security levels, customizable based on the criticality of the facility and prevailing laws.
From the foundational SL1 level for occasional protection to the highest SL4 level for defense against intentional intrusions with substantial resources.
Security in the era of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things
The growing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the industry accelerates alongside the advent of Industry 4.0.
This exponential increase in the attack surface necessitates diligent protection of equipment against external manipulations without compromising essential functionalities.
IEC 62443: Crucial Access Control
The standard underscores the importance of access control. Every operator or device must have only the necessary access privileges, requiring granular access management and integration with an identity management system.
User identification and authentication, through userID/password, physical tokens, cryptographic certificates, or biometrics, become crucial.
Creating a list of roles with different access levels, coupled with a manual override procedure in critical situations, ensures stringent control. In critical activities, a system requires approval from two entities for additional security.
The Importance of Logs: Digital Witnesses of Security
Every device must generate precise logs, documenting events such as successful or failed accesses, configuration changes, and log readings.
These logs, equipped with timestamps and unique identification, must be sent to a remote repository to prevent on-site compromises. The non-repudiation of logs ensures an unequivocal attribution of each recorded event.
In summary, IEC 62443 serves as a secure beacon in the connected manufacturing industry, guiding companies through the intricacies of industrial cybersecurity.
The Role of Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs)
Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP) are assuming an increasingly pivotal role in the landscape of OT Cybersecurity. Manufacturing companies require increasingly targeted expertise to defend against various types of cyberattacks.
Relying on an external Partner to establish and manage a robust data protection strategy is a fundamental step in ensuring the operational continuity of interconnected machinery and devices.
CyberTrust 365 can provide Managed Cyber Security Services for comprehensive and continuous protection of the OT infrastructure of manufacturing enterprises.