OT Cyber Security: Ensuring Non-IT Devices Connected to the Network are Safe and Secure

What is OT Cyber Security? 

When it comes to physical devices, Operational Technology (OT) can be defined as a network connected device that monitors or controls processes and events outside of Information Technology (IT). Some examples are building sensors, HVAC systems, medical devices, life sciences devices, and manufacturing equipment to name a few. Cyber security refers to technical and management processes that protect systems from attack.

With OT cyber security, these processes involve the discovery, monitoring and remediation of network connected OT devices affected by unusual behavior. 

Why is OT Cyber Security Important?

The increase of OT devices used in industries such as healthcare and life sciences has made OT Cyber Security more important than ever. For example, in healthcare technology management (HTM), patient outcomes rely on health monitoring that operates without disruption. And applications of OT in smart buildings that use wireless devices to monitor and control systems such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) rely on strong OT Cyber Security. 

Addressing Security Needs

The ability to track and maintain an accurate inventory of OT assets and the details about them is necessary to address the challenges associated with OT Cyber Security.

When a device is purchased and provisioned, the device technician or service provider’s field technician must be able to input the device details into the inventory when they work in-person or remotely on the device.

These details should include make, model, serial number, location, owner name, latest software patches, and owning department. This device inventory acts as the single source of truth that gets an update when routine maintenance takes place, where personnel will enrich the device data with any new information. 

But beyond device discovery and enriched device data, there must be security orchestration, automation, and response process and system of record where the inventory and security events data can be ingested. This system of action platform acts as a security hub, through which the security, IT and clinical device engineer teams use to enable a rapid remediation of security events.

When a security incident takes place, the security team can see the full context of the device. Click To Tweet

They’ll know who the device owner is and what remediation process must be followed so a work order can be dispatched to the device engineer, or manufacturers or service provider’s field technician. When the work order process can be tracked, the security, IT, and device engineers are kept aware of the remediation status. 

Staying Safe and Secure

Cask can help you get started with Nuvolo OT Cyber Security, which solves the problem of quickly remediating OT cyber security events.

As the industry’s first OT cybersecurity solution built on the ServiceNow platform, Nuvolo helps customers achieve better product, facility, and patient safety while protecting critical infrastructure. That’s because Nuvolo becomes the system of record for an organization’s assets. Nuvolo will ingest security information, match up the device’s IP and MAC address, and fully contextualize it with things like the device usage, what PHI data the device is storing or accessing, and device maintenance records. 

When integrated with real-time monitoring systems, Nuvolo’s OT Cyber Security platform provides the security and service management teams shared visibility into device posture. As a full OT Cyber Security life cycle solution, the integrated platform also automates remediation related workflows to reduce cyber security risk.