Understanding the Importance of OT Security

One of the most important objectives of cyber security is the protection of data integrity. With the advent of the internet and an exponential rise in cyber threats, it can be very hard to keep all of your information safe. One sector that is particularly at risk is the industrial sector. There are viruses, malware, etc. that harm day-to-day operations. For this purpose, operational or ot security is so important.
In the old days, an industrial outfit was usually insulated from the rest of the world. There was an “air gap” in place, which could protect the system from being accessed by an outsider. Since the beginning of the 4th industrial revolution or Industry 4.0, industrial platforms have become a more interconnected space. With this increased level of automation and interconnectivity, the threat of malware and infections is ever-present.
2010 – The Introduction of STUXNET
The world of cyber security and industrial security was rocked in 2010 by a large-scale “worm” attack. The name of the worm was STUXNET and it was the first dedicated industrial attack to receive global attention. It managed to gain access to Iran’s nuclear program and managed to do a lot of damage. Without an OT security system present, the mainframe was largely decimated.
Major OT Platform Threats of the Past
To understand better exactly how OT threats work, you have to know about some of the most well-known OT threats of the past. The first among these is “Industroyer”, which is a malware framework that managed to wreak havoc on the Kiev power grid. More than 20% of Ukraine’s capital city’s power was shut off for an hour. It was one of the most serious breaches in operational security in the 21st century. One of the earliest threats was “BlackEnergy”, which is a HTTP-based toolkit designed to execute DDoS attacks on unsuspecting industries.

Differences between IT and OT Security
If you want to know more about OT IT security, you have to understand the subtle differences that exist between these two terms. There’s a myriad of subtle differences between info and ops. Here is a rundown of the important differences that you should know.

1. Primary Goal is Different: The biggest difference between IT and OT security is the fact that their primary objectives are totally different from each other. The main priority of IT security is confidentiality – meaning that the primary goal is to keep all confidential data private, safe and 100% secure. On the other hand, operational systems mainly deal with physical systems and hardware. These include valves, pumps, etc. which are all vital to the industry. The goal of an operational security system is to keep the system running safely. Loss of operational control can have serious effects on the industry.

2. Aftereffects of an Attack: Another major difference between these two threats is the fact that their aftereffects are very different. While IT attacks occur very frequently, it is totally a given fact that OT attacks cause a lot more damage. OT attacks can cause irreparable damage to industrial infrastructure. Even small attacks can have a major effect on production. It can result in financial losses as equipment is put out of order. The more serious OT attacks can have a serious effect on the health and safety of the personnel at the industry. This is very important to recognize.

3. Operate in Different Environments: The final difference between OT and IT is perhaps the most fundamental one that you have to understand. IT and OT security operate in different environments, which means that the threat posed by each individual sector is different. IT attacks usually involve shared multi-user environments. However, operational technology is applied in industrial environments where there is a huge focus on hardware. The components that are being protected usually do not have an output device – and it can be difficult to keep track. They lack normal security measures and they also work differently from normal computers.
Even though OT and IT security is so different, there are new systems coming up which can do a lot to protect industrial outfits from this sort of pervasive damage. The best course of action is for companies to focus considerable resources towards protecting their OT systems as well. This course of action is called IT/OT alignment or convergence.