Industry 4.0: Protect Your OT Systems Against Cyber Threats
85% of companies in the manufacturing industry are already using the Internet of Things (IoT). This growing interconnection of machines and industrial equipment aims to improve the performance of production lines. However, it also significantly increases the attack surface, exposing companies to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. These attacks now also target Operational Technology (OT) systems, which include all the hardware and software used to monitor and control industrial processes, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and industrial sensors.
What are the consequences of a successful cyberattack on the operational technology of an industrial company? What measures can you take to enhance the cybersecurity of your OT systems?
Consequences of a Successful Industrial Cyberattack
IoT sensors and connected PLCs are often an entry point for attackers. Once they gain access to this network, cybercriminals can disrupt or halt production across the entire industrial plant. In such a case, production may stop for days or even weeks, resulting in significant financial consequences.
Beyond halting production, if attackers take control of industrial equipment, the consequences could be catastrophic. Machine parameters could be reprogrammed to cause fires or compromise the physical safety of operators. For instance, in a drinking water plant, cybercriminals could manipulate chlorine pumps to contaminate the water, directly endangering public health. In sectors like energy and manufacturing, a successful attack could also lead to an environmental disaster.
Furthermore, a cyberattack can severely damage a company’s brand image and erode the trust of partners, especially if it leads to delays in production delivery. This can result in customer loss and a weakening of market share.
Therefore, ensuring the highest level of cybersecurity for your OT systems is crucial. However, this task is made complex by several challenges that need to be addressed.
Challenges of Securing OT Systems
Industrial companies often rely on machines with lifecycles that can last up to 30 or 40 years. Consequently, managing an OT cybersecurity project frequently involves securing equipment that has been in place for decades. This presents a primary challenge, as these older machines were not designed with modern cybersecurity mechanisms. They often no longer receive software updates and lack data encryption capabilities, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks.
For an industrial company that owns or operates several dozen or even hundreds of factories, it can be difficult to gain a clear overview of all the devices connected to the industrial network. In cybersecurity, you can only protect what you know. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive mapping of all connected PLCs and sensors to determine the full scope to be secured.
Moreover, operational continuity is critical for any production chain, where even a minute of downtime can result in significant losses. In this context, cybersecurity solutions must be deployed without interruption and integrate seamlessly with existing equipment without disrupting ongoing processes. Ensuring operational resilience is key to maintaining productivity and preventing any impact on industrial performance.
Finally, factories and their equipment are highly heterogeneous, even within the same company, and are often located in geographically distant locations. This is further complicated by the fact that the growth of industrial groups is often based on mergers and acquisitions, which involves integrating sites with diverse technologies and varying levels of cybersecurity maturity. This heterogeneity complicates the implementation of a global cybersecurity strategy capable of covering the entire OT infrastructure due to technological differences, disparate systems, and varied protocols.
Therefore, it is necessary to prioritize security solutions that can adapt to all of these challenges.
Solutions for Convergent Cybersecurity
While OT cybersecurity is essential, it must also converge with IT. By combining its industrial expertise with strong cybersecurity knowledge, Thales helps industrial players meet the challenge of converged security.
To protect your OT systems, Thales offers a comprehensive solution structured around three core pillars: Consulting, Detect & Respond, and Integration.
Consulting
Thales supports industrial organizations in identifying and reducing risks by leveraging:
Risk Assessment & Compliance: Evaluation of OT environment vulnerabilities and alignment with regulations (NIS2, IEC 62443, etc.).
Architecture & Security by Design: Developing a cybersecurity strategy tailored to critical infrastructures, incorporating Zero Trust principles and network segmentation.
Detect & Respond
This pillar focuses on advanced monitoring, detection, and incident response capabilities to provide continuous protection:
Managed Security Services (MSS): Real-time monitoring and threat detection to anticipate attacks and respond swiftly.
Security Operations Center (SOC): 24/7 monitoring by industrial cybersecurity experts to detect and neutralize threats before they impact operations.
Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI): Proactive analysis and monitoring of cyber threats specific to OT environments to better anticipate risks.
Incident Response & Forensics: Rapid intervention during an attack to contain the threat, minimize the impact, and ensure a secure return to normal operations.
Integration
Thales facilitates the integration of cybersecurity solutions into industrial environments, ensuring efficient implementation and continuous support:
Design, Integration & Deployment: Deployment of Nozomi-developed security solutions tailored to OT infrastructures without disrupting production.
Support & Management: Ongoing maintenance and management of cybersecurity solutions to ensure long-term performance.
Reselling: Provision and integration of partner solutions tailored to industrial needs.
While investments in cybersecurity are typically focused on protecting IT systems, it is crucial to defend OT systems, which are prime targets for cybercriminals. Thales helps you implement appropriate security solutions to provide your industrial business with comprehensive and convergent protection.
