How can employees be trained to recognize and respond to cyber threats in industrial control systems?

What are you defending? What are you defending against? Two essential questions to strategize the threat landscape and your attack surface. Due to increased interconnectedness & reliance on legacy & proprietary systems, threat landscape in ICS is rapidly accelerating. ICS systems often can't be easily updated or patched due to operational continuity & often lack modern security features, making them especially susceptible to attacks. Strategies must focus on more than just patching & should include comprehensive risk assessments, ability to identify, detect, & respond to threats, & development of incident response plans. Deploying network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces is essential to protecting ICS systems effectively.

In my case I would split the networks, Isolating the industrial controls network will limit the interaction between the employees and the control. Nowadays hacking is happening through social engineering and even if the employee is well schooled about the importance of cybersecurity, you can never be careful.

In my opinion this is where IT systems and OT have a slight difference. I agree with what Mr. Festus Namupala stated about isolating the industrial controls network. Segmentation or creating an island for the legacy systems are examples of this. However, in most cases you want to ensure the ICS is not connected directly to the external networks. This is seen often with PLCs. An example of a big question you need to ask is do any of the options impact operational safety and reliability?

In the realm of industrial control systems, training employees to tackle cyber threats is non-negotiable. We must instill a culture where every individual is a frontline defender against potential breaches. Tailored, hands-on training, not just theoretical lectures, is key. It's about equipping our people with practical skills and a mindset of constant vigilance. We need drills that mirror real-world scenarios, ensuring everyone knows their role in defending our systems. Let's empower our workforce to be proactive, responsive, and unyielding in the face of cyber threats. Together, we build a stronger, more resilient defense against the unseen adversaries lurking in the digital shadows.

Its very important for an Employee to understand the impact of a Cyber Threat, while most Employees struggle to explain the solution and commercial aspects to client, however once they are fully convinced themselves that threat can lead to large case disruption in operation, loss of reputation, financial losses and possible human loss, the passion and purpose to pitch Cyber will change manifold.

To best mitigate these risks, it’s vital to promote awareness among the staff at the plant operating entity about the importance of segregating networks. Separating ICS networks from other networks can significantly reduce the attack surface, making it harder for cyber threats to penetrate and spread within these critical systems. This approach not only enhances the security posture of ICS environments but also ensures that operations can continue smoothly without the interference of external threats. Adopting such preventative measures and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness are key steps in protecting against the evolving landscape of cyber threats.

You get the culture you create. Or the one you don't. We did it with safety. We can do it with security. Awareness is a great start, but what we really need is better metrics to see what's working and what isn't.

The foundation of cybersecurity rests on three pillars: People, Process, and Technology. Organizations can strengthen their defenses with robust technology and rigorous processes. People being the weakest link.Therefore, it is crucial to train, raise awareness, and continually assess the vigilance of employees. Complacency is not an option in cybersecurity, as threat actors are always ready to exploit any vulnerability.According to the Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain, even the initial phase of "Reconnaissance" can be thwarted through these measures. Given the complexity of human behavior, consistent and targeted efforts in training and awareness are essential to maintain a strong defense posture.

In my experience, password management is one of the most neglected best practices in ICS. Passwords for ICS components are either never changed from the default value, or are the same for every device. Modern password managers can be used to share credentials with team members and are a great way to make passwords available when needed while restricting access to those with a need to know.

In the realm of industrial control systems (ICS), cybersecurity isn't just a luxury—it's a necessity. Mastering CS is non-negotiable in todays times. We require a comprehensive approach that blends advanced technology with human insight. It begins with meticulous network segmentation, ensuring critical systems remain isolated from external threats. Regular vulnerability assessments and diligent patch management are critical to preempting emerging risks. Employee training should be a focal point, ingrained within the organizational culture, not as an addendum but as a fundamental component. Let's reinforce our ICS with layers of defense, proactive surveillance, and Cybersecurity practices that are not stolen from insurance level CS101 talks

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” as the saying goes. Building a leading industrial cybersecurity team means nothing if you do not invest in the cultural change management to create & sustain continued success. One of the things we teach in SANS ICS418 is learning from the example set with industrial safety. As a matter of fact, cybersecurity IS safety when talking about control systems & operational technology. This means we can adopt elements of safety culture, which is prevalent in every industrial facility. Safety minutes, toolbox talks, and safety newsletters are all indicators of a “baked in” culture that security professionals should learn from & adapt, if possible. Culture takes time to build, but “cyber safety” is possible.

Design tabletop training exercises (TTX) for operators, based upon known (e.g. Ukraine grid hack) and fictional (but realistic/probable) ICS impacting incidents. Include not only nefarious cyber threats (aka hacking, which can sound wildly improbably to operators), but also simple threats like malware/ransomware accidentally introduced; like broadcast storm on ICS network due to switch misconfiguration or a legacy application snafu. Train them to CC secops on concerning indicators - which will always be a judgement call and might only happen on a recurrence of the issue.

A challenge here is that physical effect, to the extent there is any, will almost always be first noticed by operators who will interpret it as a maintenance event and respond by "rolling a truck" Maintenance personnel, in turn, will remove/replace/reimage the asset and restore service as quickly as possible. In a world where availability is king, even being made aware of a cyber incident can be difficult in ICS environments.

Start by regularly training employees in simple, clear language about the specific cyber threats that affect ICS. Leaders should show they care about cybersecurity and make rules easy to understand and follow. Encourage everyone to speak up if they see something wrong. Keep talking about cybersecurity and give praise when employees do things right. Practice dealing with cyber threats together so everyone knows what to do. This way, everyone can help keep our systems safe.

In the domain of industrial control systems (ICS), elevating cybersecurity awareness transcends mere compliance—it's about fostering a culture of vigilance and technical acumen. We must move beyond surface-level discussions and delve into the intricacies of threat detection and mitigation. It's time to empower our workforce with technical knowledge and hands-on training, equipping them to recognize and respond to evolving cyber threats. Let's shift the narrative from generic security advice to actionable insights and real-world solutions. By nurturing a culture that values technical prowess over check-the-box compliance, we fortify our defenses and safeguard our critical infrastructure.

A team should be trained on incident response plan of organization to dealt with situations and be able to distinguish between standard technical issues and cyber incident. Duties should be assigned to team members according to their skill set and competency. Cyber incidents should be documented in predefined standard format for future knowledge based (KB) and audit needs for regulatory and legal authorities.

Integrate ICS/OT cybersecurity awareness and incident response processes into the safety and emergency preparedness programs. Each and everyone in the organization shall understand his/her role in ICS/OT cybersecurity and be given a chance to practice it in simulations, table top exercises or full scale drills.

While online tools are invaluable for learning the basics of cybersecurity, there are some limitations when it comes to ICS applications Most tools are based on, and use as examples, information technology (IT) and not operational technologies (OT). The topologies and use cases of OT on the plant floor are quite different from its IT counterparts. Programmable logic controllers on DIN rail instead of servers in 19” racks for example. From a performance standpoint there are also many differences. And methods for device level protection differ. There aren’t too many hands-on OT training platforms and curriculum available but there are some worth looking into.

While awareness sessions with videos, slides, and workshops, among others, are really valuable when training people responsible for industrial control systems, it is more effective to use Real-life scenarios in a Red Team / Blue Team approach. Not only do cybersecurity professionals benefit from the whole setup and outcomes, but also ICS operators understand better their role while under attack and their responsibilities, especially in putting the system back into operation.

There are various ways to teach employees. We can use online courses that focus on ICS cybersecurity, as well as simulations and games to make learning fun and practical. Workshops led by experts and tailored exercises can deepen understanding. We can also use awareness campaigns and webinars to keep everyone informed and engaged. By practicing recognizing phishing attempts, employees can learn to spot threats. Our platform, Protect 360 cyber security awareness, offers specialized ICS cybersecurity training, giving employees the tools they need to protect against cyber threats in the ICS environment.

Implementing strong cybersecurity measures for Industrial Control Systems (ICS) offers several benefits, Including: 1) protecting critical operations 2) reducing the risk of cyber incidents, and enhancing resilience and trust. However, challenges such as the complexity of ICS environments, legacy technology, lack of resources, and human risk factors exist. Protect 360, our cybersecurity awareness platform, can help address these challenges by providing tailored training and resources for employees, enhancing their cybersecurity awareness and response capabilities.

Regular awareness training is a requirement of regulation and in some cases laws. It's not a case of finding time it's a case of making time. Create cyber safety days and highlight cyber safety moments.

Employees need training on industrial control systems (ICS), covering system operations and cyber threats. They should learn to recognize indicators of compromise (IoCs) like unusual network activity and unauthorized changes. Training should also include response protocols for handling security incidents, such as isolating affected systems and preserving evidence. Regular drills ensure preparedness.

Accidents happen that's how we learn. Share your experiences. Also, ask people for examples cross train in basics. What does it look like, how does it enter the system? How do you secure check someone not on premises but wants remote access?