Don’t Fall Victim to OT Cyberattacks

Prevent Becoming a Cyberattack Victim - The SCADAfence's Cybersecurity Business Case

When was the last time you came across a company that hadn’t had some IT security measures in place?

Probably years, even decades ago (we hope).

Today, IT cybersecurity is non-negotiable in almost any organization.

So why can’t the same be said for OT cybersecurity?

From the rapid evolution of cyber threats to outdated systems, there has been a huge increase in the number of cyberattacks on OT assets. And it’s about time that organizations strengthened their security posture.

Yours included.

But we’re preaching to the choir. You’ve probably already heard about this and agree it’s time to take action.

Chances are, your organization might be lagging behind, as your higher-ups aren’t buying into OT cybersecurity just yet. 

So we’re here to help. 

The first – and arguably most important – key step toward getting this backing from your bosses is to create a robust business case. A solid case is crucial, as budgets for OT security aren’t always guaranteed, and protecting your assets requires a specialist OT cybersecurity platform. 

The more you can factor in and argue your case to the higher-ups, the better.

Let’s take a look at some more of the key considerations.

A Snapshot of OT Cyberattacks in Modern Business

Just in case you need even more persuading, research in Security Magazine found that threat analysis from the public and private sectors all points to OT cyberattacks growing in the last few years.

In fact, McKinsey reported that publicly reported OT cyberattacks in 2021 were up 140% on the number reported in the previous year.

And it seems that the trajectory of cyberattacks is getting worse, as Harvard Business Review found that data breaches spiked dramatically in 2023 — a 20% increase in 2022.

So in case it wasn’t obvious before, cyberattacks are on the rise. And cybercriminals are getting smarter. Some even participate in the worryingly named capacity of “ransomware-as-a-service”, capable of bypassing even the most beefed-up cybersecurity.

Why IT Systems Alone Aren’t Enough to Protect Your OT

Not only are OT cyberattacks on the rise – and getting bigger, better, and bolder – but Security Magazine reports another alarming trend: the increased use of OT-specific protocols in these attacks. 

Essentially, this means the attack vectors are no longer being purely copied from the IT world. 

Instead, these vectors are their own pre-designed missiles, ready to target and take out your OT assets before the cyber threat has even reached your radar.

In short, IT systems alone will do next to nothing for those OT-specific protocols. You can’t rely on a catch-all solution, but instead, one that’s tailored specifically to your OT cybersecurity. 

Let’s take a look at some of the key differences between IT and OT systems that your solution will need to address.

IT and OT: Differing Operational Priorities

IT and OT systems have completely different priorities when it comes to their operations. 

IT systems, for instance, prioritize confidentiality, often requiring scheduled downtime for maintenance or updates.

OT systems have no such luxury. Instead, they need to prioritize continuous availability and reliable operations, and must operate with zero downtime, especially for critical industries like energy, transportation, and healthcare.

The Legacy Systems in OT Environments

OT environments are often much older – sometimes by decades – and will often have legacy systems that are outdated and sometimes unfit for purpose. 

Because of this, they won’t always support the latest security updates or protocols. As a result, you won’t be able to use a “one-size-fits-all” approach for these legacy systems. 

Real-World Implications

Unlike IT systems, which are mostly concerned with factors like financial impacts and data loss, OT cybersecurity systems need to account for preventing physical harm or real-world implications. 

For example, the 2021 Colonial Pipeline cyberattack in Texas caused huge disruption and was even deemed a national security danger, as the attack caused the company to suspend all operations, including the transport of oil from refineries to industrial markets.

Differing Regulations

Added to the mix is the fact there are specific regulatory and compliance requirements for OT security compared to IT. 

(This, however, is easily resolved as specialist OT cybersecurity platforms have the necessary infrastructure for compliance.)

Cyberattacks Hit Businesses Hard

On the one hand, there are direct financial costs to cyberattacks, including downtime, damage to assets, and legal fees and fines.

On the other hand, indirect financial costs include reputational damage and loss of business, which are harder to quantify but cannot be ignored.

OT environments have greater exposure to indirect costs compared to IT environments, as a cyberattack in OT can have real-world consequences – from casualties or loss of life in the organization, to large-scale impacts on the public in some critical industries.

So your business case should always identify the risks of the individual OT assets, and assign a potential direct financial cost to things like downtime, as well as indirect costs such as reputational damage.

OT Cyber Threats: The Risk Is Too Great to Wait

Since the pandemic, there has been a shift toward OT cyber threats becoming more present, more daring, and more rapidly evolving.

With the huge influx of new cyber threats, it’s too risky to wait for an attack before securing your assets.

Ready to find out more? Get in touch with the SCADAfence team today.