the issue of cybersecurity in industrial control systems (ICS)
OUR IOT TALENTS AT THE IOTS WORLD CONGRESS 2023
A report by IoT program alumni Julius De Weerth on his learning about cybersecurity in industrial control systems and the approach of zero trust networking at the IOTS World Congress.
A report by IoT program alumni Julius De Weerth on his learning about cybersecurity in industrial control systems.
The IOTS (Internet of Things Solutions) World Congress is one of the biggest events dedicated to the IoT (Internet of Things) industry. This year, the event was held in Barcelona, and I had the opportunity to attend thanks to MotionLab.Berlin, Next Big Thing AG and the IOT+ Network. The congress provides an opportunity for attendees to explore the latest technologies, trends, and use cases in the IoT field, as well as to network with industry peers and learn from experts through a range of keynote speeches, workshops, and panel discussions. One of the topics that was discussed in depth was the issue of cybersecurity in industrial control systems (ICS) networks and the approach of zero trust networking to solve these issues.
NEW RISKS THROUGH INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
The increased interconnectivity of devices in ICS networks has created a new range of risks and challenges for companies.
The increased interconnectivity of devices in ICS networks has created a new range of risks and challenges for companies.
As these systems are often used in high-stakes environments, it is critical that they are secured against potential cyber-attacks. However, this can be a difficult task as many of these systems were never designed with security in mind and are based on legacy devices. As a result, there are often significant vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers.
A zero trust approach to industrial control systems security involves strict control over all access to the network, including users, devices, and applications. This means that access to resources and data is granted based on a range of factors such as user identity, device health, and access privileges, and every device and user attempting to access sensitive resources is continuously authenticated, authorised, and monitored. By implementing a zero trust approach to ICS security, organisations can better protect these critical systems from cyber threats and attacks.
IMPLEMENTATION OF A ZERO TRUST APPROACH
How TXOne Networks helps solve the problem of zero trust in industrial control systems networks.
At IOTS I had the opportunity to talk to Jasmin Steinhoff from TXOne Networks. They provides a range of solutions designed to help organisations implement a zero trust approach in their networks. The company’s solutions address the unique challenges of ICS security, which include legacy communication protocols and complex network architecture, while ensuring that access to resources and data is granted based on strict controls and criteria.
One way TXOne Networks helps solve the problem of zero trust in industrial control systems networks is by providing industrial firewalls that are designed to control access between network segments and its resources. These firewalls are highly configurable and can be used to enforce strict access controls and granular policies, ensuring that only authorised users and devices are allowed to different network segments.
TXOne Networks’ industrial firewalls also feature an “Auto Learn” function, which is designed to simplify the process of configuring the firewall’s security policies. This feature enables the firewall to automatically detect and learn the network traffic patterns and communication protocols used by devices on the network, which helps reduce the time and resources required for manual configuration. The Auto Learn feature is particularly useful in industrial control systems networks, where the network topology and device configurations can be complex and changing. By automatically learning the traffic patterns and communication protocols used by devices on the ICS network, the firewall can create and apply needed policies. This can also help prevent misconfigurations and save time that may occur during manual configuration.
By implementing a zero trust approach to ICS security and leveraging solutions from companies like TXOne Networks, organisations can better protect their critical systems from cyber threats and attacks.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?
Overall, my experience at the IOTS World Congress was incredibly informative, and I learned a whole lot about the latest ideas and solutions in the IoT industry. The discussions surrounding cybersecurity in industrial control systems networks and the approach of zero trust networking were particularly interesting. I left the event with a deeper understanding of the challenges of IoT security and how to implement best practices to secure networks and devices.
Are you interested in IoT topics, would you like to learn more about internet of things solutions and attend events like this one together with us? Or are you looking for experts in the field of IoT for your SME or Corporate and want to save recruiting costs? Register for our graduation day with presentations and exhibitions of our IoT talents and their developments of the last batches!
Overall, my experience at the IOTS World Congress was incredibly informative, and I learned a whole lot about the latest ideas and solutions in the IoT industry. The discussions surrounding cybersecurity in industrial control systems networks and the approach of zero trust networking were particularly interesting. I left the event with a deeper understanding of the challenges of IoT security and how to implement best practices to secure networks and devices.
Are you interested in IoT topics, would you like to learn more about internet of things solutions and attend events like this one together with us? Or are you looking for experts in the field of IoT for your SME or Corporate and want to save recruiting costs? Register for our graduation day with presentations and exhibitions of our IoT talents and their developments of the last batches!
