Strengthening Industrial Systems Through OT Patch Management
Operational Technology (OT) systems are the backbone of all the vital infrastructure sectors. They power everything from energy grids and water treatment facilities to oil refineries and industrial manufacturing plants. These systems can never be shut down. They are built to run 24/7 and their integrity and safety are paramount. This also means that in the evolving cyber threat landscape the security of these systems cannot be left to chance.
OT patch management is the method of identifying, acquiring and testing updates in the software and firmware especially in the industrial systems. This could be namely the SCADA, PLC's, HMI's and other field devices. OT environments unlike the traditional IT systems go through a lot of constraints that are unique. Some of them are limited maintenance windows, real time operations and hardware/software interdependencies. This makes patching a high-stake task.
Operational Technology (OT) systems are the backbone of all the vital infrastructure sectors. They power everything from energy grids and water treatment facilities to oil refineries and industrial manufacturing plants. These systems can never be shut down. They are built to run 24/7 and their integrity and safety are paramount. This also means that in the evolving cyber threat landscape the security of these systems cannot be left to chance.
OT patch management is the method of identifying, acquiring and testing updates in the software and firmware especially in the industrial systems. This could be namely the SCADA, PLC's, HMI's and other field devices. OT environments unlike the traditional IT systems go through a lot of constraints that are unique. Some of them are limited maintenance windows, real time operations and hardware/software interdependencies. This makes patching a high-stake task.
Another big limitation of the advanced OT devices is that they operate in air gapped networks and they also run on legacy systems where updates could potentially interrupt normal operations. It is in such cases that any unpatched vulnerability could create the ideal conditions for advanced persistent threats (APTs), ransomware, and nation-state actors looking to cause disruption or extract data.
We have created the right OT patch management services that will align with safety requirements, vendor recommendations and also regulate mandates like IEC 62443, NIST CSF, and ISO 27001. We successfully install updates in your system in a way that doesn't compromise operational technology continuity.
At Microminder's we help organisations design the perfect patch management program according to their risk appetite, infrastructure complexity and compliance goals. This is applicable across any industrial landscape whether it be in energy, utilities, transportation or manufacturing.
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