Using Asset Management Cybersecurity to Reduce Risk

It’s always useful to learn as much as possible from recent ransomware and cyberattacks that impact critical infrastructure. That said, it’s equally important to keep in mind that some of the common threats and vulnerabilities that face industrial control systems (ICS) can be mitigated by solid asset management cybersecurity measures.

ICS operators possess an unparalleled understanding of the infrastructures they oversee, and that knowledge can give them the upper hand against bad actors. Equipped with the protocols and tools to properly assess potential risks and security gaps, ICS operators become a formidable line of defense in their own right.

That’s where asset management comes in. With solid procedures in place, bolstered by the right supporting tech, operators and OT stakeholders can better trust that their systems are ready for the security challenges that will inevitably come their way.

What is Asset Management Cybersecurity?

Asset management cybersecurity is the continuous process of identifying, assessing, and monitoring the various OT and IT assets your organization’s ICS relies upon.

As with all cybersecurity, asset management rests on a foundation of identifying and minimizing any existing vulnerabilities and security gaps. Asset management involves deeply observing and tracking how various systems interact, how protocols address your system’s weaknesses, whether those protocols are still adequate to do so, and the ways an operator can identify, prevent, and circumvent any potential outside interference.

The resources that an asset management cybersecurity evaluation covers will vary depending on what type of facility is being monitored. In manufacturing, oil and gas, and utility infrastructures, hardware reviewable assets can include mechanical equipment, PCs, and servers. Things like software, firmware, or cloud-based databases, especially those responsible for overseeing and tracking a system’s functionality, must also be included in any assessment.

The criteria for what falls under the purview of asset management assessment are very simple: it’s any equipment, device, software, or cloud network that has the potential to affect the operation of the system.

How Asset Management Reduces Threats

An effective asset management cybersecurity protocol that adds to a system’s resilience ensures operators have:

• An understanding of how to minimize threats, limit vulnerabilities, and prevent opportunistic attacks.
• Visibility into the operations of systems to address breaches.
• The ability to issue proactive and effective responses to cybersecurity threats, system hindrances, and errors.

Although cybersecurity asset management is often seen as a measure to protect against the worst-case scenarios that can be caused by malevolent bad actors, don’t overlook the role solid protocols play in helping to prevent more common day-to-day issues of simple human and network errors. It’s the low-key benefit of asset management cybersecurity measures for any ICS, even if no significant cyberattacks ever occur.

Implementing Asset Management

The good news is that many industrial infrastructures’ standard reviews and procedures may already be categorized as asset management cybersecurity measures. These include:

• Vulnerability scans
• Assessments of software and firmware updates
• Digital security management software
• Industrial asset and network monitoring solutions

When it is necessary to incorporate a new asset management process, or update an old one, keep in mind the sustainability of the protocol. Just like incurring technical debt can ripple through time and cause intractable problems, so too can an outdated or ill-fitting cyber asset management process. The wrong process can become cumbersome, inefficient, or high-demand, potentially creating vulnerabilities instead of eliminating them.

A good guiding principle is to remember that asset management cybersecurity measures should continually maximize your operators’ visibility into systems, ideally while minimizing interruptions of industrial operations.

Benefits of a Small-Footprint Solution

Ensuring ongoing security as industrial infrastructures grow, update, and adapt requires continual assessments. That’s why EmberOT is proud to offer a cybersecurity solution with an ultra-small software footprint that helps operators maintain their extensive understanding of their ICS with minimal impact on the systems themselves.

With our out-of-the-box, sensor-based solution, EmberOT empowers operators to decouple collections and sensing from detection platforms, data lakes, and SIEMs. Asset owners and operators get actionable and curated data from the outer edges of their OT environments, when and where they need it.

Interested in learning more about how EmberOT can contribute to your asset management cybersecurity measures? Reach out to us or schedule a demo today!