spOT - On Demand OT Risk Assessment

OT monitoring involves continuously monitoring the performance and security of industrial control systems to detect and prevent cyber threats. Its key goal is to prevent operational issues that could impact the safety, availability, and reliability of these systems. OT monitoring enables real-time issue detection for prompt incident response and compliance with regulatory mandates like NERC CIP and NIST.

The vulnerabilities of OT systems are primarily related to their age, lack of security updates and oversight. These systems were built with minimal security in mind, so they may not have the latest protocols or authentication mechanisms which makes them easily vulnerable to compromise by malicious actors. Additionally, many of these systems use legacy communication protocols that can be intercepted or manipulated.

OT attacks are a form of cyber-attack that targets operational technology systems. These attacks can cause disruption or damage to critical infrastructure, resulting in outages and/or lost productivity. Examples of OT attacks include malicious network traffic manipulation, unauthorized access to data, malware infections, and denial of service. They can also involve physical manipulations such as tampering with control systems, manipulating industrial robots, and sabotage of manufacturing process.

• Industrial Control Systems or ICS are used to monitor & control critical infrastructure such as power plants and manufacturing plants. They utilize specialized hardware and software like PLCs & SCADA systems to automate and optimize industrial processes. 
• BAS, or Building Automation Systems, control and monitor building systems, including HVAC, lighting, and security. They optimize building operations using specialized hardware and software.
• OT for IT involves using OT technologies, like PLCs and SCADA systems, in IT systems, such as data centers and networks, to streamline and optimize operations. These systems are used to automate and optimize IT operations, such as server cooling and power management.

An Operational Technology (OT) security assessment performs a comprehensive risk analysis of an organization's OT environment to identify potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities. This process helps manage risks related to the operation, use, or maintenance of critical infrastructure systems. It involves evaluating the current security measures in place and making recommendations that maximize the safety and security of the organization's OT systems. OT security assessment is key to keeping your organization secure and responsive in today's ever-changing world.

OT security is a vital subset of cybersecurity that safeguards industrial control systems, SCADA networks, and other process automation systems. Deploying various techniques like network security controls, backup systems, and authentication measures helps protect these systems from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

A security assessment evaluates an organization’s current security posture, identifies any gaps in the security program, and provides recommendations to address those gaps. The assessment typically includes: Identification of assets and systems (including OT), analysis of threats and vulnerabilities, review of existing controls, risk analysis and prioritization of recommendations.

The spOT security assessment is a quick and convenient way for organizations to conduct technical risk assessments of their operational networks. It can be easily set up and executed either on-site or remotely, and leverages existing installations to streamline the auditing process. The assessment automatically creates an inventory of OT-IT-IIoT assets and performs contextual analysis to identify vulnerabilities and gaps in the organization's security posture. Risks are then prioritized by business impact and potential effects on operational processes, allowing organizations to take action and improve their security posture efficiently.