Traditional Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are struggling to keep pace with the unique demands of OT environments. As cyber threats increasingly target these critical systems, the need for specialised OT security has never been greater. But why are conventional SOCs not adequately equipped for OT? What makes OT security so different?
In this article, we discuss the limitations of traditional SOCs and explore how innovative solutions like SoterICS MIXDR are revolutionising OT threat detection and response.
Traditional Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are struggling to keep pace with the unique demands of OT environments. As cyber threats increasingly target these critical systems, the need for specialised OT security has never been greater. But why are conventional SOCs not adequately equipped for OT? What makes OT security so different?
In this article, we discuss the limitations of traditional SOCs and explore how innovative solutions like SoterICS MIXDR are revolutionising OT threat detection and response.
Working in Detection and Response is one of the toughest roles in the cybersecurity industry. While theories look great on a whiteboard, the reality on the operations floor is a different story. It’s a world of uncertainty and ambiguity, where balancing acts are the norm. Over recent years, the cybersecurity community has realised that OT security is a completely different beast, requiring a fresh mindset. As threats evolve and increasingly target cyber-physical systems, it’s clear that security operations in OT need innovation.
1. The Challenge of IT/OT Converged Data
The misunderstanding between OT and IT security stems from the convergence of IT and OT systems in modern industrial environments. Centralising all IT and OT alerts in a single Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system may seem like a good idea. After all, most cyber attacks originate from some IT component. While OT may not be the primary target, it can still suffer from the consequences of an uncontained IT attack.
However, interpreting OT alerts presents a complex challenge that often leads to alerts being overlooked or inadequately investigated. This is particularly common in enterprise-level SOCs, including Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers, where the number of daily alerts can reach thousands. As a result, there is a strong urge to minimise or ignore alerts, which undermines the benefits of convergence. Ideally, a SOC should receive high-fidelity OT incidents, grouping many signals into a valuable insight and be better at understanding the flow from IT to OT, while also being faster in addressing potential OT threats.
2. IT Detections and an OT Network Sensor Aren’t Enough
The sheer volume of data produced by SecOps tools can be overwhelming for security analysts and threat/incident responders. Adding an OT network sensor to your stack isn’t just insufficient; it can also be counterproductive. The additional data from these sensors can exceed the capacity of already overworked teams, making it difficult to contextualise and respond to alerts effectively. Critical areas such as engineering workstations, IoT wireless protocols, and process anomaly monitoring remain under-addressed, leaving organisations vulnerable to attacks on their cyber-physical systems.
The security of OT environments should go beyond relying solely on traditional IT detections and network sensors. By implementing comprehensive OT security measures, SOCs can obtain valuable insights rather than solely dealing with raw data. This can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of your security operations, ultimately leading to remarkable advancements in OT security strategies.
3. The Critical Role of Expert Staff
The majority of MSSPs and internal SOCs have a background in IT. Consequently, their tools, processes, and technical expertise are deeply rooted in IT principles. This can lead to a situation where SOCs frequently forward alerts to OT teams, without the additional details to address the specific needs of OT systems and infrastructure effectively.
For OT engineers, the divide between IT and OT is significant. The requirements for availability, resilience, and practicality are worlds apart, and the vendors and products have to be incredibly specific. Without deep expertise in OT, interpreting alerts, linking them to relevant incidents, and setting up response plans becomes impossible. Expert staff possess the specialised knowledge and skills required to manage OT security and are adept at working with OT engineers to interpret alerts accurately and formulate an effective response to threats.
Bridge the IT/OT Gap with SoterICS MIXDR
SoterICS Managed Industrial Extended Detection Response (MIXDR) is a comprehensive solution tailored to address the complex and unique challenges of OT threat detection and response. It stands apart from traditional SOCs because it is adept at navigating OT environments, understanding and effectively meeting the unique security needs of industrial systems. From interpreting tricky alerts to managing specialised workstations.
MIXDR helps bridge the gap between IT and OT, enabling your SOC to run smoothly by prioritising real insights over unnecessary noise. Our solution harnesses advanced technology, automation, and expert knowledge to offer robust coverage and protection for all OT systems. This reduces data overload, prevents misinterpreted alerts, and leverages specialised staff to keep your OT environment secure against evolving cyber threats.
Trust SoterICS to enhance your detection capabilities, streamline response plans, and secure your cyber-physical systems effectively.
Our MIXDR augments your detection capabilities without the heavy lifting.
Working in Detection and Response is one of the toughest roles in the cybersecurity industry. While theories look great on a whiteboard, the reality on the operations floor is a different story. It’s a world of uncertainty and ambiguity, where balancing acts are the norm. Over recent years, the cybersecurity community has realised that OT security is a completely different beast, requiring a fresh mindset. As threats evolve and increasingly target cyber-physical systems, it’s clear that security operations in OT need innovation.
1. The Challenge of IT/OT Converged Data
The misunderstanding between OT and IT security stems from the convergence of IT and OT systems in modern industrial environments. Centralising all IT and OT alerts in a single Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system may seem like a good idea. After all, most cyber attacks originate from some IT component. While OT may not be the primary target, it can still suffer from the consequences of an uncontained IT attack.
However, interpreting OT alerts presents a complex challenge that often leads to alerts being overlooked or inadequately investigated. This is particularly common in enterprise-level SOCs, including Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers, where the number of daily alerts can reach thousands. As a result, there is a strong urge to minimise or ignore alerts, which undermines the benefits of convergence. Ideally, a SOC should receive high-fidelity OT incidents, grouping many signals into a valuable insight and be better at understanding the flow from IT to OT, while also being faster in addressing potential OT threats.
2. IT Detections and an OT Network Sensor Aren’t Enough
The sheer volume of data produced by SecOps tools can be overwhelming for security analysts and threat/incident responders. Adding an OT network sensor to your stack isn’t just insufficient; it can also be counterproductive. The additional data from these sensors can exceed the capacity of already overworked teams, making it difficult to contextualise and respond to alerts effectively. Critical areas such as engineering workstations, IoT wireless protocols, and process anomaly monitoring remain under-addressed, leaving organisations vulnerable to attacks on their cyber-physical systems.
The security of OT environments should go beyond relying solely on traditional IT detections and network sensors. By implementing comprehensive OT security measures, SOCs can obtain valuable insights rather than solely dealing with raw data. This can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of your security operations, ultimately leading to remarkable advancements in OT security strategies.
3. The Critical Role of Expert Staff
The majority of MSSPs and internal SOCs have a background in IT. Consequently, their tools, processes, and technical expertise are deeply rooted in IT principles. This can lead to a situation where SOCs frequently forward alerts to OT teams, without the additional details to address the specific needs of OT systems and infrastructure effectively.
For OT engineers, the divide between IT and OT is significant. The requirements for availability, resilience, and practicality are worlds apart, and the vendors and products have to be incredibly specific. Without deep expertise in OT, interpreting alerts, linking them to relevant incidents, and setting up response plans becomes impossible. Expert staff possess the specialised knowledge and skills required to manage OT security and are adept at working with OT engineers to interpret alerts accurately and formulate an effective response to threats.
Bridge the IT/OT Gap with SoterICS MIXDR
SoterICS Managed Industrial Extended Detection Response (MIXDR) is a comprehensive solution tailored to address the complex and unique challenges of OT threat detection and response. It stands apart from traditional SOCs because it is adept at navigating OT environments, understanding and effectively meeting the unique security needs of industrial systems. From interpreting tricky alerts to managing specialised workstations.
MIXDR helps bridge the gap between IT and OT, enabling your SOC to run smoothly by prioritising real insights over unnecessary noise. Our solution harnesses advanced technology, automation, and expert knowledge to offer robust coverage and protection for all OT systems. This reduces data overload, prevents misinterpreted alerts, and leverages specialised staff to keep your OT environment secure against evolving cyber threats.
