Industrial IoT Security | Steps & Best Practices
Defense through traditional segmentation of business and process controls systems is proving inadequate. Equip your team to address evolving threats targeting IIoT devices.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is revolutionizing manufacturing, driving efficiency, safety, and intelligence on the factory floor and across the supply chain. But it also increases security risk on a scale we’ve never seen before.
Routine security strategies cannot keep pace with the momentum—and that’s a big problem when a single malware-infected device can bring production to a halt. Key challenges include lack of visibility into devices and data, uninformed users, and the inability to apply security controls through traditional security measures.
Often the sheer volume of newly connected machines and devices makes security uniquely difficult and time-consuming. And where IIoT is concerned, a critical issue is that you can’t properly protect connected devices you don’t even know about. That’s why now is the time for proactive IIoT inventory and monitoring.
Steps to Secure Industrial IoT Devices
By improving inventory and monitoring practices, your IT team can gain important visibility into your organization’s devices and data, and help prevent unauthorized access. Below are three steps for securing industrial IoT devices.
I. Asset Inventory
Address SANS Controls 1 & 2
Identify IT and OT devices to plan for physical separation of business and process devices
Conduct network scans to create detailed documentation
II. Network Monitoring
Understand plant network topology
Implement firewalls for visibility only
Monitor log data
III. Security Implementation
Address endpoint security and vulnerabilities where possible
Implement Security Profiles
Continuous log monitoring and gradual implementation of access restrictions
Global Manufacturer Secures IIoT Networks with Segmentation
After completing a major security assessment, a global food and beverage manufacturer uncovered an opportunity to further strengthen its security posture. IT leadership turned to Burwood Group to design and implement a network segmentation solution that would further mitigate risks to the company’s connected office and manufacturing plants.
Cyber Security Best Practices for IIoT Build-Out
• Application visibility - Layer 7 inspection
• Zero-Trust network segmentation - ISA 62443
• Deploy modern tools for preventing zero-day attacks
• Secure mobile and virtual environments
• Deploy cohesive security platform versus disjointed point solutions
IIoT Manufacturing Expertise
Security is a critical element of developing a comprehensive IIoT strategy and architecture for your manufacturing organization. The explosion of devices and innovations on the manufacturing floor, such as new beacon technology and software development, has made technology a central focus for enabling a safe and productive worker environment. Burwood’s manufacturing industry experience extends to logistics and transportation industries as well. Click below to read more about our manufacturing experience and case studies.
How network segmentation reduces attack surface, making it more difficult for attackers to move laterally.