Defending industrial automation against cyberattacks 21 Apr 2024 at 22:00
By Thomas Vasen
Cyber security
Anybus
With reports of cyberattacks on the industrial sector becoming all too familiar, Thomas Vasen, Anybus Business Development Manager Network Security at HMS Networks, outlines five strategies companies can adopt to fortify their defenses and avoid becoming the latest victim.
Rise of cybersecurity attacks
Cybersecurity is rapidly becoming a significant concern in industrial automation. The World Economic Forum highlighted in 2023 that manufacturing is the sector most targeted to cyberattacks. Furthermore, Orange Cyberdefense reports that the manufacturing sector had Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) severity scores 33% higher than the global average. The increasing number of attacks on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) is particularly worrying. Gartner predicts a bleak future: by 2025, cyberattacks are expected to harm or endanger humans.
The time for action is now. Here are five strategies companies can adopt to effectively mitigate the risk of cyberattacks.
1. Understand that OT is not just another version of IT
The first step is to adopt the correct mindset. In the 1990s, Netheads vs Bellheads debated the future of telecommunications. While Bellheads advocated for traditional methods, Netheads argued that voice should be treated like any other data and transmitted over IP. Three decades later, Netheads' vision has prevailed, with voice being transmitted over the Internet like any other type of data. Users have even come to accept deterioration in call quality due to the increase in latency and frequently dropped packets. Today every phone call feels like an intercontinental one.
However, the situation with Operational Technology (OT) is fundamentally different. Unlike Information Technology (IT), OT cannot tolerate compromised quality and increased latency, as even minor disruptions can have catastrophic consequences. Treating OT as merely another version of IT is a serious mistake, as OT operates under distinct principles and requirements. While IT prioritizes data integrity and confidentiality, OT demands deterministic data and uptime assurance. This distinction is especially critical in industries like manufacturing, where even minor disruptions can lead to significant financial losses, material wastage, and operational downtime. In IT, occasional network downtime or data loss may be manageable inconveniences. However, in OT, a similar disruption can have far more severe consequences. Imagine if an ice cream machine were to malfunction due to a network outage or data inconsistency. Not only would the production process grind to a halt, but the perishable ingredients would spoil, resulting in financial losses and wasted ice cream. And nobody wants that.
Figure 1: In OT, network downtime would lead to production processes grinding to a halt, resulting in financial losses, and wasted ingredients or materials.
So, while it's natural for OT to adopt IT technologies (there are lots of benefits of using Industrial Ethernet over traditional fieldbus networks) it must be acknowledged that out of the box IT does not satisfy OT's requirements. Hence, the rise of industrial communications protocols, and as such, the need for specialized OT security products and solutions.
2. IT and OT must work together While the Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) is under scrutiny and manages the security budget, often including that for OT, it is the operations manager who bears the responsibility of ensuring uninterrupted production in the factory. This situation creates an inherent conflict due to differing priorities. IT professionals adhere to the CIA framework, prioritizing Confidentiality first, followed by Integrity and then Availability. In contrast, operational personnel prioritize Safety, followed by Availability, Integrity, and lastly, Confidentiality - forming the (S)AIC sequence.
This dichotomy results in conflict and friction, yet the underlying shared objective remains clear: safeguarding business continuity. Recognizing this common goal, CISO (IT) and the Operations Manager (OT) must collaborate to navigate these challenges and harmonize their approaches to secure business continuity.
3. Develop a comprehensive OT security plan Securing OT environments requires a proactive and customized approach to the unique challenges of industrial operations. Companies must conduct a thorough identification and assessment of their assets, understanding the risks associated with each machine. Rapid detection of anomalies is important, but more crucial is the implementation of robust protective measures to safeguard these assets. Having a comprehensive recovery plan in place and implementing measures to minimize impact is also important and is commonly recommended by experts such as those from ISA/IEC 62334.
Currently, many companies focus on asset inventory and threat detection. While these are important, they are not sufficient to protect OT environments. Companies must also implement measures to protect their assets.
4. Protect yourself with Network Segmentation Network segmentation is an excellent way to secure OT environments. By dividing networks into zones and separating with conduits providing access controls, companies can bolster security and prevent unauthorized access. The benefits of network segmentation include:
Protection from outside traffic - Separation from IT!
Inspection of inside traffic - Downtime is often caused by internal threats, intentional, or unintentional.
Guarding remote access traffic - Allowing remote maintenance can be critical for your uptime, but it can also be a backdoor for threats to enter your network. Take granular control of the traffic flow.
Isolation of visiting workers - Know what&#
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
15/10/2025
Across the world, early-career reporters are interrogating systems that shape daily life, from mortuaries and classrooms to the corridors of legal education and...
15/10/2025
St. Louis Blues Pay Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in New Pregame Open VideoThe NHL franchise worked with production firms 2WEI and 4th Floor CreativeBy Mark J Burns,...
15/10/2025
Cobalt Digital, G3DVu, Proxima Vision, and Telos Alliance Renew Premier Sponsors...
15/10/2025
By Paige Bethmann
Before my grandmother passed away in 2019, I went to visit her in the hospital where she'd been for a few weeks. When I arrived, the nurs...
15/10/2025
Two years ago, Spotify set out to grow the entire publishing industry by making ...
15/10/2025
People turn to DJ for a listening experience that feels personal, dynamic, and j...
15/10/2025
Las personas recurren a DJ para vivir una experiencia de escucha personal, din m...
15/10/2025
Rock legend Bruce Springsteen and luminary actor Jeremy Allen White came togethe...
15/10/2025
At Spotify, we're all about supporting rising talent and helping them connec...
15/10/2025
New SBS Documentary Series THE CANCER KILLERS Premieres 4 November on SBS & SBS ...
15/10/2025
SBS celebrates the Festivals of Lights with bold, illuminating stories across th...
15/10/2025
One of humanity's most profound questions continues: Is there any place in our galaxy suitable for life beyond Earth? NASA intends to find out, with the hel...
15/10/2025
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
15/10/2025
Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage software for the AI era, today announced the advancement of its comprehensive AI ecosystem certification pro...
15/10/2025
The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) today unveiled key highlights of the 2026 HPA Tech Retreat, scheduled for Feb. 15 19 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Go...
15/10/2025
At NAB Show New York 2025 (Stand 244), Interra Systems will showcase the future of media QC, monitoring, and captioning, highlighting its award-winning, AI- and...
15/10/2025
Grass Valley today announced that RMC BFM, part of the CMA-CGM Group and France's third-largest private media group, has chosen Grass Valley's productio...
15/10/2025
Appear, the global leader in live production technology, will demonstrate how its powerful hardware and software innovations are shaping the future of hybrid, s...
15/10/2025
Rakim to Join Berklee's Hip-Hop Hall of Fame at Signature Series Concert The rap icon becomes the latest inductee, following luminaries such as Roxanne Sh...
15/10/2025
Berklee Brings Live Music to the Head of the Charles Student artists will perform on multiple riverfront stages during the 60th anniversary of the world's...
15/10/2025
CobbTV, the government access television channel for Cobb County, Ga. recently acquired an automated playout system from Pebble, a global provider of automation...
15/10/2025
OSLO, Norway Appear, the global leader in live production technology, will demonstrate how its powerful hardware and software innovations are shaping the future...
15/10/2025
NEW YORK The NBA is making major changes to the NBA App and NBA TV as it takes control of them from TNT Sports, which has long managed the league's digital ...
15/10/2025
SAN MATEO, Calif. In what promises to be a major expansion of interactive features and personalized content on the DirecTV platform, the operator and Glance hav...
15/10/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. Roku has launched changes to its user interface (UI) that the streaming platform says will better showcase original programming on the platform...
15/10/2025
LOS ANGELES Software-defined data storage and data services provider OpenDrives has elevated Alex Dunfey to chief technology officer, responsible for driving th...
15/10/2025
Abu Dhabi, UAE October 15, 2025: Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), the UAE-based AI-powe...
15/10/2025
Sheldon Nichols and Will Trickett to find and prepare more classic cars for budget conscious would-be owners from Wiser Films
UKTV have recommissioned the clas...
15/10/2025
Wednesday 15 October 2025
Nick Cave
JPEG (275 KB)
Explore the creative univer...
15/10/2025
Wednesday 15 October 2025
From breaking up with your partner to quitting your job - new polling shows some messages are just too scary to send
Over a fifth (...
15/10/2025
Rohde & Schwarz unveils compact MXO 3 oscilloscopes with 4 and 8 channels: Advan...
15/10/2025
Back to All News
Revenge Series The Resurrected' Captivates Audiences Across Asia
Entertainment
15 October 2025
GlobalTaiwan
Link copied to clipboard
...
15/10/2025
Back to All News
Bringing the Best in VFX and Virtual Production Together as Eyeline
Jeffrey Shapiro
CEO, Eyeline
Business
15 October 2025
GlobalCanadaInd...
15/10/2025
Deployed by Astound Business Solutions, Harmonic's Primary Distribution Solution Ensures Outstanding Video Quality and Seamless Ad Insertion at the Edge
SA...
15/10/2025
Collaboration extends a trusted relationship as RMC BFM invests in scalable, fut...
15/10/2025
Series coming in 2026 stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Justine Mitchell and Jason O'Mara released today
RT today released first look images of new comedy-drama ...
14/10/2025
SVG Europe Summit 2025: All Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAYNetworking event that preceded IBC2025 shone a light on elite live sports innovation acro...
14/10/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Author Rich Podolsky on Writing Madden & Summerall: How They Revo...
14/10/2025
SVG All-Stars: Michael Reiners, Coordinating Producer, FloRacingThe Illinois State grad steers a vast schedule of motorsports events at tracks across the countr...
14/10/2025
Content protection: Getting the right management for your DRM By Neal Romanek
Friday, October 10, 2025 - 10:11
Print This Story
Eluvio power the EPCR'...
14/10/2025
As League Takes Over Ops, NBA TV and NBA App Add 60 Games, Weekday Studio Show, ...
14/10/2025
Time and effort: World's largest student-led broadcast prepares to go On Air...
14/10/2025
(L-R) Guest, Kimberly Robinson Jones, Geeta Gandbhir, Pamela Dias, and Takema Ro...
14/10/2025
Lossless ist jetzt mit Spotify Premium verf gbar.
Verlustfreies Audio war eine...
14/10/2025
La qualit Lossless est disponible sur Spotify Premium.
Le format sans perte de...
14/10/2025
For the seventh edition of Spotify and FC Barcelona's artist jersey series, ...
14/10/2025
Spotify is committed to bringing the best listening experience to all our users, and that includes parents and families. That's why we're expanding mana...
14/10/2025
Since its debut, the Spotify Original podcast Caso 63 has been more than just a story; it's been a cultural sensation. The science fiction thriller captivat...
Defending industrial automation against cyberattacks 21 Apr 2024 at 22:00 
