OT security requires more than IT approach

As digital transformation becomes the norm, cybersecurity has become a top priority. But while many companies mainly focus on securing their IT infrastructure, operational technology (OT) security often remains underexposed. However, the need for robust OT security is more urgent than ever, and protecting both systems requires different approaches.

Although the OT environment - think production lines, industrial control systems and SCADA networks - is the beating heart of many industrial companies, only a minority of them manage to adequately protect it for now. For instance, figures show that as many as 61% of smart factories have already experienced at least one cyber incident. OT accounts for a third of all targeted cyber attacks. This is no coincidence: many of these systems are outdated, or difficult to patch without disrupting production. 

Serious consequences

“Failure to prioritise OT security can nevertheless have serious business consequences,” warns Koen Pauwelyn, head of Industrial Cybersecurity Services at Siemens Belgium. “A cyber attack that disrupts production can lead to significant downtime, production losses and wasted defective products, which in turn can result in serious financial losses. Intellectual property can be stolen and sold on the black market, damaging a company's competitive advantage and reputation. Delays in delivery can cause orders to be cancelled, further eroding customer confidence and revenue.” The challenge is to always handle data optimally and securely.

Convergence

“At the same time, we see IT and OT increasingly converging. This is good because it allows data to flow vertically from field devices and sensors to edge computing and the cloud,” Pauwelyn continues. By applying IT and software development methods to the OT world and collecting, contextualising and using OT data with IT mechanisms, modular, flexible, secure and sustainable manufacturing becomes a reality. But while this growing connection between manufacturing and office networks has many benefits, the risk of cyber threats is increasing. “While IT environments are increasingly protected against sophisticated attacks, OT systems remain vulnerable. Therefore, in all haste, organisations often turn to their IT teams for support, but OT security requires specialised knowledge, tools and an approach that traditional IT teams lack.”

Comprehensive

Effective OT security starts with a holistic approach - one that is committed not only to prevention, but also to early threat detection, rapid incident response and long-term sustainable protection. “In industrial environments, continuous insight into cybersecurity status is essential for risk management and protecting investments. Siemens translates this vision into an integrated, end-to-end security strategy that reaches from the factory floor to the cloud. This approach is deeply rooted in our own practical experience: all products are hardened against potential vulnerabilities right from the design stage and are already equipped with security measures when they leave the factory and thus protected against potential vulnerabilities. Our practical knowledge from our own production sites forms the basis for a broad range of security solutions - from consulting and risk analysis to implementation, monitoring and optimisation.”

Full protection at every level

Central to this is the ‘Defense in Depth’ principle: a multi-layered security architecture supported by Zero Trust principles, with a focus on plant security, network protection and system integrity. In this way, Siemens offers companies not just individual tools, but a coherent whole that provides complete and up-to-date protection at every level of the operational infrastructure.