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A deployment-focused perspective outlines how configuration, environment, and operational controls Help to determine real-world cybersecurity outcomes.
The Industrial Security Harmonization Group (ISHG) released a joint industry perspective stating that secure industrial communication is determined not only by protocol design but also by how protocols are deployed and managed in operational environments. This joint industry perspective emphasizes that secure communication depends on deployment practices, not just protocols. The ISHG is comprised by organizations, such as FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PROFIBUS & PROFINET International, collaborating to align security concepts across Ethernet and non-Ethernet communication technologies, with the objective of helping to reduce complexity for end users and supporting more consistent cybersecurity practices in industrial automation.
Industrial communication protocols form a foundation for modern automation systems, enabling connectivity between devices, systems, and applications across process and discrete manufacturing environments. However, many commonly used protocols were developed before cybersecurity became a primary design requirement.
The ISHG’s perspective challenges the classification of protocols as inherently “secure” or “insecure,” and instead focuses on how security outcomes depend on deployment and operational context.
Security depends on configuration, deployment environment, and operational context.
Built-in protocol security features require correct implementation and ongoing management.
Compensating controls, including network segmentation, monitoring, and physical safeguards, remain critical, particularly for legacy and non-Ethernet systems.
This approach helps to align with evolving regulatory expectations including frameworks, such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act and NIS2 Directive, which emphasizes lifecycle security and operational responsibility.
The ISHG presented these findings at Hannover Messe 2026, where it provided guidance on securing industrial communication systems in practical deployment scenarios.
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