Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Challenges
- Loss of availability can lead to safety hazards and endanger human life
- The ability to separate between critical operations and IT is no longer practical
- OT environments are adopting advanced technologies, therefore they are more interconnected and complex
- Malware is increasingly accessing OT environments leveraging the end of the “air gap” era
Critical infrastructure foundation is built on industrial control systems such as SCADA systems and other OT systems. Modern operational networks are constantly evolving due to developments, such as; Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Industry 4.0, smart grid and others. With the increase in complexity, comes increased risk. Cyber-attacks against OT networks in critical infrastructure can lead to devastating outcomes, with critical operational downtime being the prime target. New cyber-threats against operational networks in critical infrastructure are forcing operators to change their approach and strategy regarding OT security. Since connectivity and adoption of IIoT devices is inevitable due to business requirements, operators must start planning how they can remain secure while increasing connectivity instead of depending on outdated approaches such as air-gapping between IT and OT. This will allow them to protect themselves from attacks trying to disrupt their operations.