Recent Strategy Guide by SANS Institute Highlights the Urgency of Securing ICS/OT Environments in 2024
A detailed handbook crafted by Dean Parsons highlights the increasing necessity for specialized security protocols in ICS environments to counter the escalating cyber perils.
Surmounting an imposing 50% surge in ransomware assaults directed at industrial control systems (ICS) in 2023, the SANS Institute is enforcing proactive initiatives by revealing its crucial new strategy manual, “ICS Is the Business: Why Securing ICS/OT Environments Is Business-Critical in 2024.” Curated by Dean Parsons, the CEO of ICS Defense Force and a SANS Certified Instructor, this manual provides an in-depth evaluation of the swiftly evolving threat panorama, along with crucial measures that enterprises must undertake to protect their activities and guarantee public welfare. As cyber threats multiply in both occurrence and sophistication, this manual stands as an indispensable asset in fortifying the pivotal systems that form the foundation of our society.
Key Observations from the Strategy Manual:
- The Expanding Threatscape: The manual elucidates the concerning surge in cyber incursions against ICS/OT environments, with some specifically targeting essential infrastructure sectors. Parsons remarks, “The fact is that these incursions are now not a matter of choice, but inevitability. Organizations operating in the ICS domain must acknowledge that their ICS is the core of their operations.”
- Significant, Infrequent Attacks: The manual accentuates the hazards posed by significant, infrequent attacks that could potentially lead to disastrous outcomes, such as widescale power outages and ecological calamities. Parsons states, “These are the assaults that keep security CSOs, VP of Engineering, and others accountable for ICS cyber defense, safety, and risk mitigation, awake at night. A well-coordinated targeted assault on control systems could have far-reaching repercussions across various industries, regions, or countries.”
- Five Imperative ICS Cybersecurity Controls: Parsons delineates the quintet of critical controls outlined by SANS crucial for defending ICS/OT environments, comprising ICS-specific incident response and defensible network architectures for control systems. These controls are not merely technical suggestions but also strategic necessities supporting operational continuity and safety.
- AI as a Supplementary Tool: The manual also delves into the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in augmenting ICS security while advising against excessive reliance on AI at the detriment of human expertise. “AI can serve as a potent asset, yet it cannot substitute the specialized knowledge and decision-making faculties of trained ICS/OT personnel.”
“We cannot afford to be passive,” Parsons cautions. “This manual is essential reading for any individual responsible for shielding critical infrastructure – CSOs, VP Engineering, engineering safety, and risk managers. The measures expounded here are vital in ensuring the continuous and secure functioning of our industrial systems.”
SANS Institute urges all enterprises with ICS/OT setups to obtain the strategy manual and commence integrating the recommended security protocols. Safeguarding our critical infrastructure is not solely a technical predicament but a pivotal business obligation that necessitates immediate intervention.
To access the complete strategy guide, navigate to https://www.sans.org/mlp/ics-business-guide-2024/.
Intrigued about delving deeper into the domain of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security? Explore the courses available at SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2024.
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