Why Security

There is the obvious answer, to feel protected and safe with the ability to trust in your equipment. However, Cybersecurity is not just a box to select marking progress, it is a process and program that encompasses the lifecycle of all products from sourcing to retirement, from purchase to divestiture, especially with regards to OT environments. The process employs a defense-in-depth strategy whereby layers of protection provide a flexible response to a variety of situations, including ICS, SCADA, IOT, and more. Cybersecurity employs an optimistic outlook grounded in clear eyed suspicion backed by relentless training, investigation, preparation, and communication.

What is Operational Technology (OT)?

Aveva primarily is invested in Operation Technology (OT) cybersecurity, and subset of ICS security, as those products inhabit the customer space. OT encompasses the hardware and software systems that are used to control and monitor physical processes in the industrial sector. OT is the backbone of manufacturing plants, utility companies, transportation networks, and many other sectors that rely on physical operations.

IT and OT Security

An important distinction that directly determines the type security profiles employed is the difference between IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology), which both aim to shield assets, but to different priorities.

Initially OT and IT were highly separated, with OT systems running proprietary control protocols which are now transitioning to become more like IT because of the adoption of IT hardware and protocols - consider the expanding usage of IP and inexpensive wireless devices. IT also focuses primarily on data flow used by people whereas OT focuses on management of devices. This difference manifests in different priorities.

Key Differences Between OT and ICS

Scope: OT is a broader term that includes all technologies used in industrial operations while ICS specifically refers to the systems that control and monitor these processes.

Functionality: OT focuses on the overall management of physical processes whereas ICS is more about the specific control and automation of these processes.

Example: An example of OT would be the entire infrastructure of a manufacturing plant while ICS would refer to the specific systems that control the machinery within that plant.

Understanding the distinctions between OT and ICS is crucial for effectively managing and securing industrial environments, especially in the context of increasing cybersecurity threats and the integration of IT and OT systems.

Secure Your Audience

Developing security not only requires an intimate understanding of the infrastructure, but also whom will be interacting with technology at each stage of usage. This can range from those designing the network to the admin installing the system to the technician using it. At each step recommended guidance in this guide is provided to ensure published security standards are followed.