Adapting Zero Trust Principles to Operational Technology


Zero trust (ZT) offers a modern, adaptive approach to cybersecurity by eliminating implicit trust and continuously validating access based on identity, context, and risk. ZT principles assume a breach has already occurred and are designed to limit threat actor movement and potential damage.

For operational technology (OT), applying ZT requires careful consideration because OT systems interact with the physical environment and are constrained by availability and safety requirements, as well as legacy technology with long lifespans. The blanket application of traditional information technology (IT)-focused ZT capabilities to OT is neither reasonable nor feasible and requires continuous collaboration between OT engineers, IT architects, and cybersecurity professionals. This collaboration should include clear communication channels, joint development of policies and controls, and a shared understanding of both mission objectives and technical limitations.

Read more…
Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Division


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • TSA updates, renews cybersecurity requirements for pipeline owners, operators

    July 26, 2023

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced an update to its Security Directive regarding oil and natural gas pipeline cybersecurity. This revised directive will continue the effort to reinforce cybersecurity preparedness and resilience for the nation’s critical pipelines. Developed with input from industry stakeholders and federal partners, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the ...

  • CISA Releases Analysis of FY22 Risk and Vulnerability Assessments

    July 26, 2023

    CISA has released an analysis and infographic detailing the findings from the 121 Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (RVAs) conducted across multiple critical infrastructure sectors in fiscal year 2022 (FY22). The analysis details a sample attack path including tactics and steps a cyber threat actor could follow to compromise an organization with weaknesses representative of those CISA ...

  • Securing Digital Technologies of the Next Generation of Nuclear Reactors

    July 25, 2023

    All innovations bring potential benefits that could transform industries, but they also bring potential risks. In the nuclear field, advanced nuclear reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs), are incorporating innovative technologies, particularly digital technologies that yield novel solutions. There is growing interest in SMRs. These advanced nuclear reactors have a limited power capacity — typically ...

  • What might authentication attacks look like in a phishing-resistant future?

    July 25, 2023

    The industry has come a long way in terms of improving how we make user authentication more secure. From the most basic concept of relying on usernames and passwords for authentication to enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for additional security, we are now embracing a shift toward passwordless logins and/or passkeys that are designed with security ...

  • CISA Releases Four Industrial Control Systems Advisories

    July 25, 2023

    CISA released four Industrial Control Systems (ICS) advisories on July 25, 2023. These advisories provide timely information about current security issues, vulnerabilities, and exploits surrounding ICS. ICSA-23-206-01 AXIS A1001 ICSA-23-206-02 Rockwell Automation ThinManager ThinServer Read more… Source: U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency  

  • Ivanti Patches Endpoint Manager Mobile CVE-2023-35078 Remote Unauthenticated API Access Vulnerability

    July 24, 2023

    A vulnerability has been discovered in Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile (EPMM), formerly known as MobileIron Core. This vulnerability impacts all supported versions – Version 11.4 releases 11.10, 11.9 and 11.8. Older versions/releases are also at risk. If exploited, this vulnerability enables an unauthorized, remote (internet-facing) actor to potentially access users’ personally identifiable information and make ...