7 steps to defend industrial control networks

Jan. 20, 2016
The Department of Homeland Security released a report offering industry professionals guidelines to take to protect industrial control systems.

The reality is that industrial control systems (ICSs) have been under attack quite frequently, and for the process automation industry, having the systems we depend on be vulnerable to cyber threats is something to be alarmed about. Hackers will try anything and everything to breach defenses, and it is important to be prepared for when the cyber intrusions take place.

Technology brief: Essentials of cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is an acknowledged and growing threat to the operational integrity of process manufacturing and other critical infrastructure sectors. This technology brief discusses and reviews the latest technology developments that are available to reduce the risks of viruses, malware and cybersecurity threats. Download now.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the report "Seven Strategies to Defend Industrial Control Systems" to offer industry professionals guidelines to take to protect their systems when these have been compromised.

The report outlines how in the past, U.S. critical infrastructure systems have frequently been breached and it says there is a high likelihood that future attempts will take place.

The seven strategies DHS outlines in its report to protect industrial control systems from cyber attacks are the following:

    1. Implement application whitelisting

    2. Ensure proper configuration/patch management

    3. Reduce your attack surface area

    4. Build a defendable environment

    5. Manage authentication

    6. Implement secure remote access

    7. Monitor and respond

Download the full report to learn more.