Key Takeaways
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, FBI, and international partners have released joint guidance on Secure Connectivity Principles for Operational Technology.
- The guide helps organizations mitigate exposed and insecure connectivity and protect networks from cyber threat actors, including nation-state sponsored actors.
- The guidance provides a framework for designing secure connectivity into OT environments, with clear goals and practical steps for OT organizations.
- The guide emphasizes the importance of secure-by-design principles and urges OT device manufacturers and integrators to build security into their products from the start.
- The eight key principles outlined in the guide aim to reduce attack surfaces and boost resilience in OT systems.
Introduction to Operational Technology Security
Operational technology (OT) network environments are becoming increasingly interconnected, delivering benefits such as real-time analytics, remote monitoring, and predictive maintenance. However, this connectivity also heightens the risk to cyber intrusions that could cause physical harm, environmental damage, or disrupt essential services. The joint guidance released by CISA, NCSC-UK, FBI, and international partners aims to help organizations mitigate these risks and protect their networks from highly capable and opportunistic cyber threat actors, including nation-state sponsored actors.
The Importance of Secure Connectivity
The guide offers owners and operators a framework with clear goals for designing secure connectivity into their environments. This is crucial, as OT systems are uniquely vulnerable and increasingly targeted by cyber threat actors. The guide emphasizes the importance of treating cybersecurity as a foundational requirement that supports physical safety outcomes, uptime, and service continuity. By providing OT organizations with practical steps to design, secure, and manage connectivity in OT environments, the guide helps defend critical infrastructure against malicious and state-sponsored cyber threats.
International Collaboration and Partnership
The joint guidance is the result of international collaboration and partnership between CISA, NCSC-UK, FBI, and other international partners. This collaboration underscores the importance of working together to provide timely, actionable cybersecurity guidance. CISA Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity Nick Andersen emphasized the agency’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with US and international partners to provide practical steps to reduce risk and safeguard the nation’s vital systems. The guide is a testament to the power of international collaboration in addressing the global threat of cyber attacks.
Secure-by-Design Principles
The guide urges OT device manufacturers and integrators to embrace secure-by-design principles, building security into their products from the start. This is the most effective way to reduce risk and safeguard critical infrastructure. NCSC Chief Technology Officer Ollie Whitehouse emphasized the importance of treating cybersecurity as a foundational requirement that supports physical safety outcomes, uptime, and service continuity. By building security into OT systems from the start, organizations can reduce the attack surface and boost resilience.
Implementation and Recommendations
The guide provides a clear, practical framework for designing and maintaining secure connectivity, reducing attack surfaces, and boosting resilience. The eight key principles outlined in the guide aim to help OT practitioners worldwide make confident, security-led decisions that will safeguard critical services and strengthen trust in connected systems. CISA strongly encourages organizations to review the joint guide, assess their OT connectivity, and implement the recommended mitigations to strengthen critical infrastructure defenses against opportunistic threats.
Conclusion and Call to Action
In conclusion, the joint guidance on Secure Connectivity Principles for Operational Technology is a critical resource for organizations seeking to protect their OT systems from cyber threats. The guide provides a framework for designing secure connectivity, emphasizing the importance of secure-by-design principles and international collaboration. As FBI Cyber Assistant Director Brett Leatherman noted, OT systems are uniquely vulnerable and increasingly targeted, making their secure connectivity a matter of national importance. Organizations must take timely mitigation and shared defenses seriously to stay ahead of the threat. By following the guidance and implementing the recommended mitigations, organizations can reduce the risk of cyber intrusions and protect their critical infrastructure.
