OT Integrity Plus – Online Digest

OT Integrity Plus is a LinkedIn review of content by industry experts from Hexagon that I have curated. It covers OT cybersecurity topics including Asset Visibility, Continuous Hardening, Configuration Management, Risk Management, and Response and Recovery.

To explore all our recent content in this area, visit: OT/ICS Cybersecurity | Hexagon's ALI Division Resource Center.

The Only Constant is Change: Challenges in Modern Automation Engineering

Author: Arezoo Gazerzadeh

Over the past few decades, heavy processing industries have significantly improved mechanical reliability and automation, extending operational uptime through initiatives like Reliability-Centered Maintenance and Risk-Based Inspections. However, modern automation systems have grown complex, with thousands of interconnected components and evolving configurations. This complexity introduces new challenges for automation engineers, particularly in managing frequent system changes necessary to meet production, environmental, and safety demands.

Automation engineers must navigate these challenges while ensuring that operational goals are met. Technologies such as Modbus, OPC, HART, and Ethernet-based control systems offer efficiencies but create interconnectivity issues, leading to risks if changes are not properly managed or documented.

PAS Automation Integrity™ addresses these challenges by automating the management of system configurations, tracking changes, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. It reduces unauthorized modifications, minimizes errors, and improves documentation processes, enhancing overall safety, reliability, and productivity. Studies show that Automation Integrity can cut documentation and change management costs by 97% and troubleshooting time by 90%, while boosting engineer productivity by 25%. As a result, PAS Automation Integrity is a vital tool for optimizing plant operations, improving safety, and ensuring compliance in complex industrial environments.

Here’s the link to the full article: The Only Constant is Change: Challenges in Modern Automation Engineering

Bridging the Divide: Enhancing Cybersecurity and OT Team Collaboration

Author: Syed M. Belal

In today’s rapidly changing technological landscape, collaboration between Cybersecurity and Operational Technology (OT) teams is essential yet fraught with challenges. While awareness of this collaboration's importance is increasing, difficulties persist, particularly in vulnerability management and patch deployment. Key barriers include cultural differences, misaligned priorities, siloed communication, inadequate training, and limited resources.

The risks associated with poor collaboration are significant: unnoticed vulnerabilities can compromise security, operational disruptions may affect system reliability, and financial losses can arise from breaches or failures. Conversely, effective collaboration enhances risk reduction, system integrity, and overall operational success.

To improve collaboration, organizations can implement best practices such as creating cross-functional teams, providing cross-training, conducting joint risk assessments, developing integrated policies, and leveraging collaborative technologies. Metrics for success include incident response times, compliance audits, and the effectiveness of vulnerability management.

Drawing parallels to sports teamwork, effective collaboration requires strong leadership, clear communication, and a unified strategy. As organizations undergo digital transformation, the complexity of defending critical assets increases. Fostering collaboration between Cybersecurity and OT teams is vital for managing risks, ensuring system integrity, and achieving business objectives.

Here’s the link to the full article: Bridging the Divide: Enhancing Cybersecurity and OT Team Collaboration

Navigating the Complexities of Patch Deployment in ICS Environments: Balancing Risk and Operational Uptime

Author: Nick Cappi

Patching in ICS environments is a complex process influenced by multiple factors like geography, industry, regulations, asset criticality, and vendor approvals. Patch deployment timelines can vary widely, from a few days to years. While tools like Microsoft WSUS automate the process, automation alone may not sufficiently mitigate risks, especially in environments where devices are frequently added, removed, or modified. Vulnerability assessments often reveal overlooked devices that were not included in patching cycles.

Patching is just one method to reduce risk, but it is not always the most effective. Alternative measures, such as firewall rules, access controls, and whitelisting, can sometimes be better solutions, especially in critical environments where testing patches is necessary. Discrepancies between corporate policies and site-level execution add to the challenge, making a broader strategy essential.

An effective approach to risk management should include asset visibility, vulnerability management, and configuration management. Risk will always exist, but organizations can mitigate it by focusing on the most pressing concerns and applying resources where they have the most impact. Shifting from task-based execution to a risk-based strategy ensures that operations remain safe, profitable, and secure without unnecessary disruptions.

Here’s the link to the full article: Navigating the Complexities of Patch Deployment in ICS Environments: Balancing Risk and Operational

From Classrooms to Control Rooms: Mastering Asset Visibility for Success

Author: Adam Schreiner

The start of the school year brings uncertainty and excitement for students, with new classmates, teachers, and lessons. For educators, it's a time to set goals, share materials, and assess student knowledge. Similarly, businesses undergo planning to assess assets and operational technology (OT) environments. Asset visibility is crucial to reduce risks, such as equipment failures and cybersecurity threats.

Effective asset visibility provides benefits beyond financial management, including insurance claims, legal protection, and risk management. It helps track equipment, maintain regulatory compliance, and improve operational efficiency. In OT environments, asset inventories are vital for security, incident response, and managing change.

Manual tools like email or spreadsheets often lead to inaccuracies, making automated solutions essential. Solutions such as Hexagon’s PAS Cyber Integrity® offer enterprise-level asset visibility, helping businesses manage, secure, and optimize OT environments efficiently while minimizing risk.

Here’s the link to the full article: From Classrooms to Control Rooms: Mastering Asset Visibility for Success

Strengthening ICS/OT Security: Three Essential Steps for Effective Risk Management in the Digital Age

Author: Chad Elmendorf

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) are vital to managing and monitoring processes in heavy industries. As industrial digitalization connects these systems to IT networks, they become vulnerable to cyber threats that could disrupt operations, including loss of control or data. To mitigate these risks, effective risk management strategies are crucial.

Asset Visibility is the first step, involving the creation of a comprehensive inventory of all ICS/OT assets—hardware, software, and network components. This inventory helps identify critical assets and their interconnections, enabling tailored security measures. Automated tools are recommended to maintain accurate, up-to-date inventories and minimize human error.

Vulnerability Management follows, using scanning tools to detect security weaknesses such as outdated software or insecure configurations. Prioritizing vulnerabilities that pose the greatest risk and integrating continuous assessments into regular operations fosters a proactive security posture.

Backup and Recovery is the final key consideration. Regular backups of ICS/OT systems ensure that operations can be quickly restored after an incident. A well-tested recovery plan is essential for minimizing downtime and data loss.

By focusing on these areas—asset visibility, vulnerability management, and backup and recovery—organizations can strengthen their cybersecurity posture, ensuring resilience against evolving threats.

Here’s the link to the full article: Strengthening ICS/OT Security: Three Essential Steps for Effective Risk Management in the Digital Age

PAS OT Integrity is a robust platform designed to enhance cybersecurity and operational efficiency in industrial environments. The platform is made up of 2 solutions, PAS Automation Integrity and PAS Cyber Integrity. The platform provides comprehensive capabilities for managing and securing Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT). By implementing PAS Cyber Integrity and PAS Automation Integrity, organizations can achieve a higher level of cybersecurity, operational reliability, and regulatory compliance, ultimately protecting their critical infrastructure from evolving cyber threats.