Introduction

Protecting digital assets, industrial control systems and other operational technology (OT) should be a priority for any organization. A safe and secure operational infrastructure improves productivity, reduces risk of cyber related safety incidents, increasing revenues and profitability. 

However, creating a secure environment for your OT is easier said than done. It requires Cyber Security expertise with industry specific experiences to create a robust infrastructure. If you cannot find it in-house, you should consult with expert industrial security consulting services to assist in the creation of a secure IT/OT infrastructure. 

Also, you should consider following a Cyber Security framework that guides you through ensuring the safety and security of your systems. Let’s dive deeper into the world of different Cyber Security frameworks and how they can help your organization. 

Understanding Cyber Security Frameworks

A Cyber Security framework is loosely defined as a set of guidelines and controls that are designed to help organizations deal with various cyber risks and attacks. These frameworks align with a specific Cyber Security goal or are implemented to fulfill certain rules and regulations. 

These frameworks provide organizations with a sense of direction through systematic and robust processes to mitigate cyber risks. You don’t have to worry about different environments and complexities because these frameworks are quite flexible and work well in different scenarios. 

As mentioned, certain Cyber Security frameworks are mandatory to comply with industry-specific standards or guidelines. For example, if you want to process online transactions, you must comply with the PCI DSS standard and if you are in power generation and distribution you may need to comply with NERC CIP or equivalent in your jurisdiction. . Every Cyber Security framework has its own rules, processes and best practices. 

Some Cyber Security frameworks might require third-party audits to ensure that your business is compliant with the relevant standards. While others require you to have resilient monitoring and practices to ensure that you follow the guidelines. 

Getting Started with Frameworks 

Implementing a certain framework can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. Therefore, organizations should look to work with external industrial Cyber Security services that can assist them in implementing an effective framework that fits their needs. However, there are certain steps you need to take to ensure a swift and seamless implementation. 

The first step is to identify critical assets that need protection. It is necessary to identify crucial processes, industrial control systems and other OT that are essential to the daily operations of your organization. If you own an industrial business, you need to ensure that all your OT/ICS are working optimally. 

Identifying your hardware, software and applications crucial to seamless business operations is key to implementing a robust Cyber Security framework. It is also recommended to appropriately document your critical tool inventory to determine the framework level required to be implemented. 

After identifying critical assets and tools to protect, you need to develop a system to help you achieve your goals. For a start, you’d need to have some sort of industrial control system in place. To protect sensitive systems and processes , make sure to have multi-factor authentication for privileged users in place and a separate account for every employee. 

This ensures that only authorized individuals can access crucial systems. System protection techniques such as firewalls and endpoint security systems are considered crucial in your overall Cyber Security policy. Data backup and recovery solutions are also important because they will provide you with a gateway to restore data in a situation where critical information is lost or compromised. 

Once foundational components are in place, it’s  important to create an effective monitoring and detection system that automatically alerts you of any potential system access breach or other Cyber Security events.. Your team should also be educated and informed of the latest cyber-attacks and aware of their responsibilities to immediately report any unwanted incidents. 

The last step is to plan your response in the case of any Cyber Security incident. Taking proactive rather than reactive measures will ensure that your critical systems can be quickly recovered and your systems are not compromised. Frequent testing of your system will ensure that your infrastructure is ready to withstand cyber-attacks. Make sure to have a proactive reporting department that can promptly report any incident to the relevant authorities to ensure compliance. 

How Can Dexcent Help? 

If you're looking for a Cyber Security and industrial automation service provider that can help you with digital transformation and the safety and security of your industrial control systems and other operational technology, check out the products and services provided by Dexcent Inc. 

Dexcent Inc specializes in providing digital transformation services and industrial consulting engineering that will drive your business growth.