Secure Procurement for OT: Key Considerations
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), along with 11 prominent domestic and international organizations, recently released a document titled “Secure by Demand: Priority Considerations for Operational Technology Owners and Operators when Selecting Digital Products.” This publication provides comprehensive guidance for integrating security into the procurement of industrial automation and control systems.
The document highlights 12 essential security principles for OT procurement, urging critical infrastructure organizations to prioritize products that incorporate these measures to mitigate risks and transition from outdated systems. These principles include Configuration Management, Secure Communication, Threat Modeling, Vulnerability Management, and Upgrade and Patch Tooling, among others.
The Challenges in OT Security
Many existing OT products suffer from inherent vulnerabilities, such as weak authentication, insecure default settings, and limited logging capabilities. These weaknesses provide an entry point for cyber threat actors, often targeting specific OT components across multiple organizations. The CISA’s Secure by Design initiative emphasizes the need for technology providers to embed security during the design phase, reducing the burden on OT owners and operators.
RELIANOID’s Role in Securing OT Systems
At RELIANOID, we understand the unique challenges faced by critical infrastructure organizations in securing their OT environments. Our solutions are tailored to meet the highest security standards, ensuring compliance with Secure by Design principles and regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s NIS2 Directive. Here’s how we can help:
- Comprehensive Configuration Management: Our tools enable seamless tracking and control of configuration changes, ensuring quick recovery after incidents.
- Advanced Logging Capabilities: We provide robust logging solutions that capture security events and configuration changes, helping build effective incident response strategies.
- Interoperable Open Standards: RELIANOID’s solutions support open standards, allowing organizations to maintain flexibility in vendor selection and adopt cutting-edge security measures effortlessly.
- Secure Communication: Our offerings include secure machine-to-machine communication with simplified certificate management, ensuring authenticated and resilient operations.
- Vulnerability Management: We provide regular updates, vulnerability assessments, and transparent roadmaps to help organizations maintain a secure OT environment.
Moving Towards a Secure Future
By integrating security into their procurement decisions, OT owners and operators can build a strong foundation to withstand evolving cyber threats. Manufacturers must adopt Secure by Design practices and provide clear roadmaps to ensure their products meet modern security standards. At RELIANOID, we’re committed to empowering organizations with resilient, scalable, and secure OT solutions.
Together, we can drive the adoption of secure functionality in OT systems and foster trust in critical infrastructure. Contact RELIANOID today to learn more about how we can assist your organization in achieving robust security in operational technology.
Related Blogs
