Cyber Threats from infrastructure upgradation

As large production units, steel plants, mines, manufacturers, and oil-n-gas facilities face increasing pressure to spice up production and minimize extraction and purification prices, modernization of internet sites and systems is inevitable. The adoption of the latest technologies in oil and gas facilities might be a dual-edged weapon. 

On one facet, their area unit obvious advantages of implementing industrial IoT (IIoT) devices to spice up efficiencies and crop operational prices. On the other, their area unit inherent risks associated with system upgrades. 

While human error will cause incidents a bit like the one for Columbia Gas, similar incidents might whilst simply become the work of terrorists. Oil and gas executives are aware that once-isolated operational technology (OT) networks charged with purification, combining and distributing fuel area units more and more connected to the “outside world” via the internet IoT (IIoT). In addition, modernization inevitably involves some extent of digital transformation, that exposes facilities to tons of security threats than ever before. 

Attacks like BlackEnergy, Industroyer, VPNFilter, and Wannacry are a few of the malware campaigns that have affected vital infrastructures. These actors in some cases were knave factions, also as nation-states, that hacked into industrial networks and caused the disturbance. However, the threat from intervals is additionally present and very important. Insiders have “the keys to the kingdom” or a minimum of acumen to hunt out them. The IIoT threat The internet of things (IoT) and IIoT show tremendous promise for up oil and gas operations. Increasingly, firms area unit finance within the worth saving and productivity-enhancing advantages of networked sensible devices, which can communicate and coordinate with one another via the online. 

The IIoT downside?

Few vendors and customers have absolutely scared of security risks associated with the technology. The introduction of the latest access points into the company’s network, and therefore the present lack of security standards for IoT devices, will produce holes for punching through perimeter defenses. 

However, the planned or (worst-case scenario) unplanned introduction of IIoT devices into your enterprise network creates opportunities for a bunch of external and internal threat actors, 

including: 

1. Freelance of an organization or cluster, or somebody incited by an organization or cluster. 
2. State-sponsored adversaries working on behalf of a government, whose activities will span computer-based and physical attacks. 
3. Terrorists acting alone, 
4. External cyber attacks caused by hacktivists to plug a political agenda or a social cause.
5.  Internal attacks created by malicious insiders, sort of a dissatisfied worker or third-party contractor 

Unintentional mistakes because of human error can cause injury or damage to production because of incorrect changes to industrial processes or instrumentation. Another variation like account hijack resembles an associated degree of attack since it happens once an external wrongdoer hijacks a licensed user’s account (employee, vendor, integrator, etc.).This vector is generally achieved by victimization, social engineering techniques like phishing emails and or a “call from the IT department” requesting the user’s ID and secret. 

IIoT makers often pre-configure devices with a default secret, that would be a time-saver for OT employees. However, this profit is additionally a significant security flaw. Once many thousands of devices share identical default passwords, attackers will simply compromise organizations that neglect or designedly plan to not modification them. 

Several IIoT devices cannot be patched or vendors don't issue patches for well-known vulnerabilities, thus missing patches area unit another severe drawback for organizations. 

Most organizations have endless IIoT device lists that reach on the far side ancient OT to include alarm systems, cameras, thermostats, motor drivers, rollers, selling machines, etc. Even associated apparently harmless devices will create a threat. As an example, you want to never connect or integrate an IoT coffeemaker to your IT or OT network, since the machine has no safety features. 

Regardless of the IIoT device kind, attackers will use any or all of them as stepping stones to compromise your IT and OT networks. For example, several IIoT devices have exposed net ports, that attackers will use to bypass your firewall. Once within your network, a hacker will neutralize depth injury between OT infrastructures and move laterally between them. 

There are several network monitoring tools available in the market that might provide you the traffic insight but can never understand the codes being sent to your PLCs or endpoint equipment.

This whole scenario brings us to a stage where you strongly require an overall solution to clearly see each movement in your IT and OT network. For process networks you need to deploy a smart solution that can monitor the pre-civilization commands, your PLCs understand.  A dedicated team is also required for identifying the anomalies which intentionally or unintentionally can affect your production unit.