Operational technology systems (OT)—such as PLCs and SCADA—are an essential part of modern industrial automation. These systems help control and monitor industrial processes, enabling them to run with accuracy and efficiency.

Maintaining strong cybersecurity in OT environments helps ensure that industrial systems enjoy production continuity while staying safe and compliant. If you're an Automation Technician or someone who is seeking Automation Technician Training, you should understand how cybersecurity affects OT systems and what you can do to support cybersecurity efforts.

Understanding OT Cybersecurity

In OT systems, production and continuity are the most important factors to consider when taking cybersecurity steps. Unfortunately, IT updates designed to protect the system may lead to outages that last for hours or longer. OT systems are sensitive and perfectly calibrated to operate in their environment. Small changes can have big impacts, leading to production losses and even safety hazards.

The role of technicians in day-to-day OT security is to observe and understand how OT systems work while noticing changes when they appear—even if they are small changes. Knowing when updates occur and watching for disruptions can help keep these systems properly maintained and operating correctly.

Leveraging the Purdue Model to Structure OT Defense

The Purdue Model is a simple way to organize systems by dividing industrial environments into layered zones. This allows users to segment networks and apply security tools without disturbing production. The layered approach also makes it more difficult for attackers to breach the entire system. This helps protect the system and limits damage when an attacker gets through.

Segmenting the environment into zones will support incident containment and allow for tailored updates to each zone. Technicians working on these systems create firewalls between zones to help protect OT operations. In this way, technicians play a vital role in ensuring OT system security.

Cybersecurity Practices for OT Networks

Automation Technicians can take steps to promote cybersecurity in OT networks. Following these best practices helps ensure a strong and secure system.

Engage in Inventory Management

Using automated tools to map devices, services, and protocols gives Automation Technicians up-to-date information about the network. Keeping inventories and network diagrams available and making changes as needed helps ensure that the technician has a road map to follow in the event of a breach. Technicians must perform periodic updates to ensure continuous discovery of changes as they record the information for future use.

Practice Network Segmentation

Segmentation means isolating different zones and preventing communication between devices across zones. Micro-segmentation takes this further, stopping some devices from communicating within zones. This helps contain problems and reduces risk.

Use Secure Remote Access Practices

Strong remote access practices enable technicians to access systems from outside the network but only in a controlled way. Users should not be allowed to access devices directly.

Instead, they should use a controlled gateway, such as a VPN with multi-factor authentication. Using role-based access controls will ensure that only specific people can access devices at any time. Additionally, time-based access controls can limit how long users may access those devices.

Harden PLC and SCADA Devices

"Hardening" is the term technicians use when reducing the cyberattack risk level of various devices and equipment. Hardening can involve disabling unused ports, using strong passwords, and installing updates promptly, as well as  providing security templates to all vendors to ensure they follow the same protocols.

Monitoring and Incident Detection

Monitoring for incidents helps you identify problems, ensuring they can be addressed quickly. Use network monitoring sensors and centralized logs to stay informed about your equipment. Set thresholds for alerts to prevent false positives while ensuring that problems are discovered as soon as they happen.

Follow Good Patch Management Strategies for OT

Updates to OT systems are necessary and important, but they must be carefully planned and tested before deployment. Following optimal workflows for running updates and saving configuration backups can help ensure that no data is lost when updates occur.

Incident Response Built for OT

Unlike with IT security incidents, when security incidents occur in OT systems, the first step is not to shut them down. Having a proper incident response protocol in place helps ensure that each technician knows their role. Sometimes, security incidents may require affected systems to be isolated. OT systems may be switched to manual control during this time.

Having an OT system incident response playbook can help preserve the evidence and protect systems without disrupting the processes taking place on the manufacturing floor. The best way to ensure that everyone knows their role during a security incident is to practice drills that don't interrupt production.

Training and Skill-Building for Technicians

If you're an Automation Technician, build a culture of security on the shop floor. Partner with IT security teams, follow risk assessment routines that don't halt production, and practice drills to help ensure that everyone is ready when a security incident occurs.

Getting Started as an Automation Technician

Automation Technicians often work at the intersection of automation and cybersecurity. Having a strong foundational knowledge of PLCs, SCADA systems, and the fundamentals of networking fundamentals and cybersecurity can help automation technicians succeed in their careers.

With the Automation Technician Program through George Brown Polytechnic, students develop the skills they need to keep their systems up and running and secure.

If you've been considering Automation Technician Training, call 1-888-553-5333 and speak to one of our Program Consultants.