Summary of CISA Joint Guide on Secure OT Connectivity
This text announces the release of a joint guide from CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) and international partners, focused on secure connectivity for Operational Technology (OT) environments.
Key takeaways:
* Purpose: The guide provides practical steps for organizations to design, secure, and manage connectivity in OT environments to defend against cyber threats, including those from malicious actors and state-sponsored groups.
* collaboration: Developed in collaboration with partners from the US (FBI), UK (NCSC), Australia (ASD’s ACSC), Canada (Cyber Center), Germany (BSI), Netherlands (NCSC-NL), and New Zealand (NCSC-NZ).
* Emphasis on Secure-by-Design: The guide stresses the importance of building security into OT systems from the beginning, rather than adding it as an afterthought.
* Importance of OT Security: Leaders from CISA, NCSC, and FBI highlight the critical role of OT systems in powering essential services and the increasing targeting of these systems by cyber adversaries.
* Call to Action: Organizations are urged to review the guide, assess their OT connectivity, and implement the recommended mitigations.
* Focus on foundational cybersecurity: The guide emphasizes that cybersecurity is a foundational requirement for physical safety, uptime, and service continuity.
Where to find more data:
* Industrial Control Systems CISA.gov: https://www.cisa.gov/ics
* CISA Website: https://www.cisa.gov/