In today’s increasingly connected industrial landscape, cybersecurity for manufacturing environments and critical infrastructure has become a critical concern that demands attention from the highest levels of corporate leadership. The C-suite and board of directors play a pivotal role in addressing the unique challenges of securing operational technology (OT) systems.
The cost of inaction
The potential costs of inadequate OT security for adverse cyber events are staggering. Every business knows their “number” when it comes to the cost of plant downtime, whether it’s half a million dollars a day, a hundred thousand dollars per line or whatever your metric is.
Cybersecurity incidents can lead to production disruptions, safety risks and significant financial losses. Moreover, regulatory pressures are increasing. The SEC is now mandating reporting requirements for cybersecurity incidents, and organizations are facing growing liability concerns
Executives and the board of directors are now being held liable and responsible, personally in some cases, for failing to provide due diligence in securing manufacturing or critical infrastructure environments.
The disconnect between IT and OT
One of the primary issues organizations face is the disconnect between information technology (IT) and OT departments. While IT traditionally handles cybersecurity for enterprise systems, they often lack the specialized knowledge required to secure manufacturing environments effectively.
If the C-suite thought process is that their IT organization is responsible for cybersecurity, they’re missing the mark, especially when it comes to industrial control systems (ICS). One piece of advice for executive management is not to take the first response they get when asked about cybersecurity for the plant floor.
The IT/OT disconnect can lead to significant vulnerabilities, as IT teams may not understand the intricacies of industrial control systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and other OT-specific equipment and technologies. The first step in addressing this issue is recognizing that OT security requires a unique and tailored approach and skillset from traditional IT security.
Challenges in implementing OT security
Implementing robust OT security measures comes with its own set of challenges:
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Legacy systems: Many manufacturing environments rely on older, unpatched systems that cannot be easily updated without disrupting production.
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Resistance to change: Plant managers may resist security measures that could potentially impact productivity or require downtime.
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Lack of visibility: Many organizations lack comprehensive asset inventories and vulnerability management for their OT systems.
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Complex supply chains: Manufacturing often involves numerous suppliers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), each introducing potential vulnerabilities.
Recommended steps for C-suite engagement
To address these challenges and minimize cybersecurity risks, the C-suite and board must take an active role in OT security. The following steps can help them get up to speed:
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Recognize the unique nature of OT security: Understand that IT security practices alone are insufficient for protecting manufacturing environments.
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Allocate resources: Invest in OT-specific security tools, training and personnel.
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Foster collaboration: Encourage cooperation between IT and OT teams, breaking down silos that hinder effective security measures. A tabletop exercise involving both teams is a good first step.
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Engage with OT vendors: Build relationships with reputable automation technology vendors and experienced system integrators to understand and address security concerns.
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Implement continuous monitoring: Deploy tools for ongoing asset inventory and vulnerability management in OT environments. A one-time snapshot of plant floor vulnerability is not sufficient in today’s heightened state of cyber risk.
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Develop incident response plans: Create and regularly practice OT-specific incident response procedures. Involve both the OT and IT teams in this effort to share knowledge.
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Address supply chain security: Work with suppliers and OEMs to ensure they meet the highest-level cybersecurity standards.
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Lead by example: Make OT security a priority, and communicate its importance throughout the organization. Simply passing the baton to IT is guaranteed to leave the organization vulnerable.
The path forward
Securing manufacturing environments is an ongoing process that requires commitment from the highest levels of an organization. You can’t manage what you’re not measuring. The C-suite must champion efforts to gain visibility into OT environments, assess vulnerabilities and continuously improve security postures.
By treating OT security with the same level of importance as safety protocols, organizations can protect their operations, maintain productivity and meet growing regulatory and customer expectations.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, the role of executive leadership in driving OT security initiatives will only become more critical. The message is clear: C-suite executives and boards can no longer afford to ignore the unique cybersecurity challenges posed by manufacturing environments.
By taking proactive steps to address these issues, C-suite executives can not only protect their organizations from potential disasters but also position themselves as leaders in an increasingly security-conscious industrial landscape.
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