Building An ICS/OT Threat Detection Strategy

In an era of increasing digital interconnectedness, operation technology (OT) security has emerged as a critical battlefield in protecting our most essential infrastructure. Industrial control systems (ICS) form the technological backbone of critical infrastructure, powering everything from power plants to manufacturing facilities. Yet, because ICS and OT systems are challenging to secure and often deprioritized, they remain some of the most vulnerable to cyberattacks, making detection even more critical to cyber-securing them. Unfortunately, in many cases proper detection capabilities are lacking or don’t exist.

Sygnia’s guide to Building An ICS/OT Threat Detection Strategy emerges from our team’s extensive experience working with critical infrastructure and industrial organizations. Drawing from our firsthand investigations of complex industrial cybersecurity incidents and deep partnerships with sector leaders, we provide CISOs with a structured four-phase framework (Know, Assess, Plan, and Optimize) that goes beyond theoretical approaches. Our methodology is forged from real-world operational insights, having helped organizations in energy, manufacturing, and utilities successfully navigate the most challenging ICS/OT security landscapes.

Sygnia’s four-phase framework

Phase 1: Know Your Environment and Threat Landscape

The foundation of any robust OT security detection strategy is comprehensive environment mapping and understanding your system threat landscape. This involves:

• Identifying your critical assets
• Mapping your environment and its network boundaries
• Understanding your OT internal ecosystem and operations
• Identifying your threat landscape and vulnerabilities

Phase 2: Assess Current Detection Capabilities

Effective threat detection requires evaluating existing capabilities and evaluating their efficiency in addressing your specific threat landscape. This means:

• Identifying visibility gaps
• Evaluating sensors’ efficiency in addressing your threat landscape
• Simulating and testing your system against industry-specific attack scenarios

Phase 3: Plan Out a Collection Management Framework

This phase includes planning out your Collection Management Framework (CMF) that prioritizes data sources and sensors for implementation. This framework may ensure that you will be able to effectively address your threat landscape while providing your team with the critical data needed for efficient incident investigations. It can encompass:

• Network traffic monitoring
• Infrastructure event logs
• Servers and endpoint event logs
• Security agent alerts
• Monitoring telemetry and process trends

Phase 4: Optimize Continuously Through the Refinement of Monitoring & Enhancement

The final phase focuses on implementing your CMF and continuously enhancing detection capabilities through:

• Advanced network monitoring
• Endpoint detection improvements
• Infrastructure monitoring
• Leveraging cyber threat intelligence
• Enhancing team collaboration

Conclusion

Developing a robust threat detection strategy for Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) requires a nuanced and comprehensive approach that is flexibly adaptable to address a wide variety of industrial and operational settings. Since each organization’s ICS/OT infrastructure is unique, shaped by its architectural design, operational dynamics, and specific threat landscape, a one-size-fits-all methodology may be not only ineffective, but could also leave critical systems dangerously exposed.

A strong ICS/OT threat detection strategy goes beyond selecting the right tools. It demands a deep understanding of the environment, a thorough assessment of the threat landscape, and a tailored approach that aligns with the organization’s specific needs. Additionally, collaboration between IT and OT teams is essential to ensure the organization is well-prepared to detect and respond to threats effectively.

By leveraging Sygnia’s framework, initiatives, and considerations outlined in this guide, you will be able to develop a tailored and effective cybersecurity strategy to fortify your ICS/OT infrastructure against evolving threats.