Industrial Control System (ICS) 4.0
We provide guidance for cybersecurity to secure network environments, endpoints, and critical infrastructure in converged IT and OT environments.
Industrial control system (ICS) is a general term that encompasses several types of control systems and associated instrumentation used for industrial process control.
Such systems scan ranges in size from a few modular panel-mounted controllers to large interconnected and interactive distributed control sensors measuring process variables (PVs), compare the collected data with desired setpoints (SPs), and derive command functions which are used to control a process through the final control elements (FCEs), such as control valves, cameras, sensors, locks, and other control devices.
Larger systems are usually implemented by supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, or distributed control systems (DCS), and programmable logic controllers (PCLs), though SCADA and PCL systems are scalable down to small systems with few control loops. Such systems are extensively used in industries such as chemical processing, pulp, and paper manufacture, power generation, oil and gas processing, and telecommunications.
Increasing replacement of OT infrastructure with IT systems is opening new vulnerabilities and risks that are pushing security and risk management leaders to update security approaches and strategies.
We provide guidance for securing networks and endpoints in converged IT and OT environments.
The converging of IT and OT systems, combined with increased use of IoT in industrial environments, is challenging many security practices in defining the best security architecture that aligns to transforming and modernizing environments.
Regulatory compliance pressure is mounting, as governments around the world issue new guidelines to enhance the security of critical infrastructures. This pressure comes along with the need to keep costs down and remain competitive.
OT and IT convergence raises new security challenges spanning across a range of new initiatives. This impacts the security of a growing range of industries.