RubyComm FAQ

Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity refers to the practices and technologies that protect industrial control systems, SCADA networks, and other operational technology assets from cyber threats. OT encompasses programmable systems and devices that interact with the physical environment, including industrial control systems (ICS), building automation systems, transportation systems, and critical infrastructure components.

OT cybersecurity matters because these systems control essential services including electricity, petroleum production, water, transportation, manufacturing, and communications. Unlike traditional IT systems that primarily handle data, OT systems directly control physical processes and equipment. A cyber incident impacting OT systems can have severe real-world consequences, including production downtime, equipment damage, environmental impact, personal injury, or even loss of life.

Recent statistics demonstrate the urgency of OT security. According to Fortinet's 2024 State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity Report, 73% of organizations faced OT attacks in 2024, compared to 49% in 2023. This represents a significant increase in both the frequency and breadth of attacks targeting operational technology environments.

The fundamental difference between OT and IT security lies in their primary objectives and operational priorities. While IT security typically prioritizes the CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability) in that order, OT security reverses this priority to focus first on safety, availability, integrity, and then confidentiality.

Key differences include:

Performance Requirements: OT systems demand real-time operation with minimal latency. Security measures cannot interfere with critical control processes that may require millisecond response times.

Uptime Criticality: OT systems often cannot be taken offline for maintenance or security updates without significant operational impact. Traditional IT practices of shutting down systems for patching are not feasible in most OT environments.

Physical Consequences: Security breaches in OT environments can result in physical damage to equipment, environmental harm, or threats to human safety, making the stakes considerably higher than typical IT incidents.

Legacy Infrastructure: Many OT systems use decades-old equipment that was never designed with cybersecurity in mind, making them inherently more vulnerable than modern IT systems.

Network Protocols: OT environments use specialized industrial protocols and technologies that differ significantly from standard IT networks, requiring specific expertise and tools for effective security monitoring.

Ransomware has emerged as one of the most significant threats to OT environments. According to cybersecurity experts, ransomware is particularly dangerous because cybercriminals recognize that organizations are more likely to pay ransoms when critical operational systems are compromised.

The top threats identified by security researchers include:

Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Malware: DoS attacks and malware activity lead in frequency as the most prevalent attacks against OT systems. These attacks can disrupt critical operations and cause significant downtime.

Remote Access Trojans (RATs): These tools provide attackers with flexibility in establishing long-term, persistent access to compromised OT systems.

Lack of Network Segmentation: Poor network segmentation remains a fundamental vulnerability, allowing attackers to move laterally from IT networks into OT environments.

Web Application Attacks: Vulnerabilities in web-based interfaces used to manage OT systems provide entry points for attackers.

Command Injection and Parameter Manipulation: This threat involves invalidated data that allows attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on OT systems.

Phishing and Social Engineering: Human error continues to be a significant attack vector, with employees inadvertently providing access through malicious links or infected attachments.

Nation-state actors, cybercriminals, and hacktivists are increasingly targeting OT systems, with attacks becoming more sophisticated and tailored to specific industrial environments.

A comprehensive OT security framework should be built upon industry-standard guidelines such as NIST SP 800-82r3 and incorporate the Purdue Model for network architecture. The framework must address both technical and organizational aspects of security.

Core Framework Components:

Risk Assessment and Asset Inventory: Conduct thorough risk assessments and maintain comprehensive inventories of all OT assets, including their configurations, dependencies, and criticality levels.

Network Segmentation: Implement the Purdue Model to create distinct layers separating enterprise networks from operational technology systems. This includes establishing secure zones with controlled communication pathways.

Access Control and Authentication: Deploy multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure only authorized personnel can access critical OT systems.

Continuous Monitoring and Threat Detection: Implement Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) specifically designed for OT environments.

Incident Response Planning: Develop OT-specific incident response procedures that account for the unique requirements of operational environments, including safety considerations and uptime requirements.

Security Updates and Patch Management: Establish processes for applying security patches with minimal disruption to operations.

Employee Training and Awareness: Implement comprehensive OT security awareness training programs tailored to different roles within the organization.

The convergence of IT and OT systems presents both opportunities and significant security challenges. Successful convergence requires strategic planning and careful implementation to avoid expanding the attack surface.

Key Convergence Security Strategies:

Unified Security Policies: Establish consistent security policies that govern both IT and OT systems while respecting their unique operational requirements. This includes creating a single operating model for security controls across both environments.

Bridging Communication Gaps: Foster collaboration between traditionally siloed IT and OT teams. Historical separation between these teams has hindered comprehensive security strategies. Cross-functional communication is essential for identifying vulnerabilities collectively.

Gradual Integration: Implement convergence gradually, starting with less critical systems and progressively moving toward more sensitive operational technology. This approach allows organizations to identify and address security gaps before they impact critical infrastructure.

Advanced Monitoring: Deploy centralized monitoring tools capable of providing real-time threat detection across integrated IT-OT networks. This enables early identification of anomalies regardless of their origin.

Scalability Considerations: Address scalability challenges by ensuring security solutions can handle the volume and diversity of data generated by converged environments.

Organizations must recognize that IT and OT security standards can remain separate while sharing a unified operating model to ensure consistent application of security controls across both environments.

Human error contributes to 60% of data breaches, making employee training a critical component of OT cybersecurity. Unlike traditional IT training, OT security awareness training must address the unique risks and operational contexts of industrial environments.

Essential Training Components:

Role-Based Content: Training must be tailored to specific roles—engineers, operators, technicians, and contractors—as each group faces distinct threats and responsibilities. For example, engineers need to understand secure firmware updates, while operators must recognize suspicious communications.

OT-Specific Threat Education: Focus on threats unique to OT systems, such as insecure remote connections, compromised PLCs, or misconfigured SCADA environments. Generic IT training doesn't address the operational context of industrial infrastructure.

Real-World Scenarios: Use examples based on actual OT incidents to help employees connect training to their daily work. This practical approach improves recall during actual security events.

Interactive Learning: Implement hands-on activities, simulations, and gamified learning to increase engagement and knowledge retention. Interactive content helps identify knowledge gaps in real-time.

Continuous Education: OT threats evolve rapidly, requiring ongoing training programs with regular refreshers and microlearning updates. Forrester predicts that 90% of data breaches will include human elements in 2024, emphasizing the need for sustained awareness programs.

Compliance Alignment: Ensure training supports regulatory frameworks such as IEC 62443, NIST 800-53, and NERC CIP to meet audit requirements and regulatory obligations.

Regulatory compliance in OT environments has become increasingly complex, with organizations facing multiple frameworks including NERC-CIP, IEC 62443, NIS2, and TSA Pipeline regulations. Compliance is not just about meeting minimum requirements but establishing comprehensive security postures.

Key Regulatory Frameworks:

NIST SP 800-82r3: The latest revision provides comprehensive guidance for OT security, including tailored security control baselines for low-, moderate-, and high-impact OT systems.

IEC 62443: This international standard provides a framework for securing industrial automation and control systems, offering structured guidance for OT cybersecurity implementation.

NIS2 Directive: The European Union's Network and Information Security Directive requires enhanced cybersecurity measures for critical infrastructure operators.

NERC CIP: Critical Infrastructure Protection standards specifically address cybersecurity for North American bulk electric systems.

Compliance Implementation Strategies:

Device Identity Management: Establish secure device identities as a foundational step in securing ICS environments. This includes implementing strong authentication mechanisms for all connected devices.

Regular Security Audits: Conduct comprehensive security assessments that evaluate current security posture against regulatory requirements. These audits should include both internal evaluations and third-party expert assessments.

Documentation and Reporting: Maintain detailed documentation of security controls, incident response procedures, and compliance activities to support audit requirements.

Automated Compliance Monitoring: Implement platforms that provide regulatory dashboards with asset inventories, events, and vulnerabilities aligned with regulatory requirements.

OT incident response differs significantly from traditional IT incident response due to the unique nature of operational environments and their potential physical consequences. Organizations must develop OT-specific incident response plans that account for safety requirements and uptime criticality.

OT Incident Response Considerations:

Safety First: Physical safety takes precedence over cybersecurity concerns in OT environments. Incident response teams must understand when their actions may pose greater risks to system stability or human safety.

Uptime Requirements: Unlike IT systems that can be isolated or shut down during incidents, OT systems often cannot be disconnected without severe operational impact. Response procedures must account for continuous operation requirements.

Specialized Expertise: OT incident response requires personnel with specific knowledge of industrial protocols, control systems, and operational processes. Traditional IT forensic tools may provide little visibility into OT-specific activities.

Forensic Challenges: Collecting forensic data from OT systems requires different approaches that maintain operational and uptime requirements. Standard IT forensic procedures may be ineffective or dangerous in OT environments.

Cross-Functional Coordination: Effective OT incident response requires coordination between IT teams, OT operations staff, safety personnel, and management. Communication protocols must be established before incidents occur.

Response Planning Elements:

Develop procedures for triaging systems without disrupting critical operations. Establish protocols for escalation to executive leadership, as OT incidents often require C-suite involvement due to their potential business impact. Create communication plans that address both internal stakeholders and external parties, including regulators and customers who may be affected by operational disruptions.

Network segmentation is a foundational security strategy for OT environments, creating defensible zones and limiting the potential impact of security incidents. Proper segmentation follows the Purdue Model architecture and implements multiple layers of protection.

Segmentation Implementation Strategy:

Purdue Model Implementation: Deploy the five-layer Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture (PERA) to separate physical processes (Level 0) from enterprise networks (Level 4). Each layer should have specific security controls and communication protocols.

Firewall Deployment: Use industrial firewalls to control traffic between network segments, allowing only authorized communications. These firewalls should understand industrial protocols and provide deep packet inspection capabilities.

VLAN Configuration: Implement Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) to logically separate devices even when physically connected to the same network infrastructure.

Micro-Segmentation: Apply micro-segmentation techniques within OT zones to further isolate critical systems and limit lateral movement. This granular approach provides additional protection for the most sensitive operational technology.

Access Control Lists (ACLs): Deploy strict access controls and ACLs to ensure only essential devices can communicate across segments. Regular review and updates of these controls are essential as operational requirements change.

Zone Management: Create secure zones for different SCADA components and operational functions. Each zone should have appropriate security controls based on the criticality and risk profile of the contained systems.

Monitoring Capabilities: Implement monitoring tools that can detect unauthorized communication attempts between segments and identify potential lateral movement by attackers.

The OT cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve rapidly, driven by technological advances, regulatory changes, and emerging threat vectors. Organizations must prepare for both opportunities and challenges presented by these developments.

Emerging Technologies and Trends:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI technologies are being deployed for advanced threat detection and anomaly identification in OT environments. However, attackers are also using AI to identify zero-day vulnerabilities, creating an arms race in cybersecurity capabilities.

Quantum Computing Threats: The advancement of quantum computing presents significant risks to current encryption methods. Post-quantum cryptography is emerging as a critical solution to protect against quantum-enabled attacks that could render traditional encryption obsolete.

Industrial IoT (IIoT) Integration: The Industrial IoT sector is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 20.5% between 2022 and 2030. This growth brings both enhanced operational capabilities and expanded attack surfaces that require specialized security approaches.

Edge Computing Security: The proliferation of edge computing in industrial environments creates new security challenges. Much of today's connected industrial infrastructure wasn't originally intended to be internet-facing, requiring specialized security measures for edge devices.

Regulatory Evolution: New regulations such as the EU's Cyber Resilience Act and updated versions of NIS2 are raising the bar for OT cybersecurity requirements. Organizations must stay current with evolving compliance obligations.

Platform-Based Security: There's a trend toward consolidated security platforms that simplify and integrate OT security architecture. This approach helps organizations manage complex security requirements more effectively.

Cloud Integration: As OT systems increasingly connect to cloud-based analytics platforms, organizations must address the security challenges of hybrid cloud-OT environments while maintaining operational integrity.

These trends underscore the importance of continuous adaptation and investment in OT cybersecurity capabilities to protect critical industrial infrastructure in an evolving threat landscape.

Many industrial environments operate legacy OT systems that lack built-in security features and cannot easily support modern software agents or endpoint protection tools. Upgrading these systems is often impractical due to cost, compatibility, or production uptime requirements.

A practical alternative is to implement external, non-intrusive cybersecurity solutions that secure legacy systems at the network level. These solutions, such as in-line security appliances, can monitor, segment, and protect communications without altering existing infrastructure or requiring changes to sensitive industrial devices.

For example, hardware-based solutions deployed at the network edge can enforce policy controls and detect anomalies, even when operating within bandwidth- or latency-constrained environments. This approach is particularly effective for securing brownfield deployments.

Agentless OT security refers to protection mechanisms that do not require installing software on industrial devices. This is crucial in environments where devices run proprietary or legacy operating systems, or where vendors prohibit third-party modifications.

Agentless solutions typically operate at the network level, using traffic inspection, behavioral baselining, and protocol-aware controls to identify threats in real time. These solutions offer high compatibility with diverse and heterogeneous OT environments, including older PLCs, RTUs, and embedded control systems.

This approach is gaining traction because it enables industrial operators to enhance cybersecurity posture without disrupting operations or voiding equipment warranties—an increasingly important consideration in sectors like water treatment, manufacturing, and energy.

Remote industrial assets such as pump stations, agricultural systems, or solar installations, often lack local IT staff or robust infrastructure. Deploying traditional security tools in these locations can be logistically challenging and cost-prohibitive.

Lightweight, embedded OT security solutions offer a viable path forward. These plug-and-play devices require no additional hardware investment or deep technical expertise to deploy. Once installed, they can autonomously segment local assets, enforce security policies, and report to centralized monitoring systems via secure channels.

This is particularly beneficial for operators managing distributed or unmanned environments where continuous connectivity and operational resilience are paramount.

Plug-and-protect security models are designed for rapid deployment with minimal configuration. These solutions are pre-configured to detect and defend against known attack patterns, enforce communication policies, and isolate suspicious behavior—all without complex integration procedures.

This deployment model reduces both time-to-protection and total cost of ownership (TCO), allowing organizations to scale security across multiple sites quickly. It also supports lean operational teams who need to enforce consistent protection across their OT footprint without large cybersecurity teams on the ground.

Such models are particularly valuable in sectors where downtime equates to significant operational losses or regulatory exposure.

When evaluating OT cybersecurity solutions in compliance-regulated industries, it is essential to consider not only technical capabilities but also how well the solution supports reporting, audit readiness, and structured risk reduction.

Key factors to evaluate include:

• Compatibility with existing legacy systems
  

• Support for industry standards like IEC 62443, CRA, and NIS2
  

• Built-in network segmentation features aligned with the Purdue Model
  

• Agentless deployment to reduce operational friction
  

• Ability to demonstrate real-time visibility and event logging
  

Choosing a security solution that integrates easily into compliance workflows and doesn't require redesigning existing infrastructure gives organizations a faster path to regulatory alignment.