Representative End User Clients
Representative Automation Clients
Representative Software Clients
In today's interconnected world, critical infrastructure (CI) sectors face an ever-evolving landscape of cyber and physical threats. As these sectors embrace digital transformation and the convergence of operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT), the need for robust, adaptable security strategies has never been more pressing.
Recognizing the distinct challenges and architectures involved in securing these environments, the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), an organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure enterprise computing environment, released Zero Trust Guidance for Critical Infrastructure, which examines the critical and nuanced application of Zero Trust (ZT) principles within OT and industrial control systems (ICS).
Developed by CSA’s Zero Trust Working Group, which aims to develop Zero Trust standards to achieve consistency for cloud, hybrid, user endpoint, and OT/ICS/IoT environments, the paper lays out the foundational concepts of Zero Trust and provides a tailored roadmap for implementing these principles effectively in OT/ICS settings. The paper uses CSA’s five-step process for Zero Trust: define the protect surface (the area a ZT policy will protect), map operational flows, build a Zero Trust architecture, create Zero Trust policies, and monitor and maintain the network.
Specifically, the document offers a detailed examination of the inherent differences between traditional IT and OT/ICS systems, focusing on aspects such as network design, device heterogeneity, and specific security requirements. Additionally, it provides a step-by-step implementation guide with actionable insights for each stage of deploying a ZT model in these unique settings. This includes specific guidance on identifying critical assets, mapping data flows, constructing a tailored ZT Architecture (ZTA), policy formulation, and the nuances of continuous monitoring within an OT/ICS context.
Download the Zero Trust Guidance for Critical Infrastructure.
Find out more about Industrial Cybersecurity Challenges and Solutions.