Addressing the rising threats to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) networks, Check Point introduces its top of the range ruggedized gateways designed specifically for harsh environments

ICS and OT networks play a vital role in our modern world but are also prime targets for cyberattacks. Threat actors are drawn to critical infrastructure and SCADA/ICS due to their inherent ability to cause economic disruption, espionage, intellectual property theft, and for geopolitical motives. The Vulnerabilities and Threats of ICS/OT Systems

ICS and OT systems have been in existence for a long period of time, prioritizing production processes over cybersecurity practices. Unfortunately, this situation creates significant vulnerabilities and threats.

To mitigate these risks effectively, organizations must prioritize implementing an ICS security solution, minimizing risk exposure in both IT and OT environments. The solution must be proactive, block attacks before they compromise critical assets, and ensure uninterrupted industrial operations.

Expanding Check Point’s ICS Security Solution with Quantum Rugged 1595R

Check Point is proud to introduce the new Check Point Quantum Rugged 1595R Security Gateway. Specifically engineered to protect ICS and OT networks from cyberattacks, it expands Check Point’s family of Quantum Rugged security gateways. The 1595R delivers harsh environment resilience, offering:

  • 400Mbps of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered threat prevention
  • Comprehensive asset discovery
  • IT-OT network segmentation
  • Secure 5G connectivity at 1Gbps
  • Supports 1,830 SCADA and ICS Protocols & Commands

“The recent surge in cyberattacks targeting OT infrastructure has made it clear: the future of critical infrastructure security hinges on being proactive. As nation-state actors and state-sponsored attacks continue to pose significant threats, coupled with the convergence of IT-OT networks via ‘Industry 4.0’, there is an imperative to address the vulnerabilities stemming from legacy systems and unpatched devices” said Eyal Manor, VP of Product Management at Check Point Software Technologies. “The Quantum Rugged 1595R is a testament to Check Point’s commitment to advancing cybersecurity measures and meeting the rising demand for Industry 4.0-ready security solutions.”

Best Practices for Protecting ICS and OT Networks

 

Protecting ICS and OT networks for critical infrastructure presents distinct challenges including maintaining service uptime, ensuring data integrity, compliance adherence, and public safety. The increasing connectivity of critical infrastructure systems significantly expands the attack surface for ICS/SCADA systems and OT networks. The vulnerability of critical infrastructure is becoming increasingly evident, with cyberattacks like the Colonial Pipeline and JBS ransomware shedding light on the enormous potential for damage.

“Manufacturing, energy, transportation, and utility OT Networks and ICS systems are becoming increasingly connected to gain the productivity benefits of Industry 4.0. ICS and SCADA systems don’t have built in security, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks including malware and ransomware. Enterprises in these industries need security that is seamless and automated, so it does not disrupt operations and business processes,” said Pete Finalle, IDC’s Senior Research Analyst, Security & Trust. “Check Point’s ICS Security solution and new Quantum Rugged 1595R security gateways combine network segmentation, automated security, and threat intelligence to protect critical infrastructure and prevent the most sophisticated cyberattacks from impacting production operations.”

Navigating the Six Levels of the Purdue Model: Fortifying Your OT Security with Check Point

 

In the pursuit of safeguarding Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and OT, it’s essential to partner with security vendors that understand how to navigate the Purdue model’s six distinct levels and understand the unique security requirements at each tier. The Purdue model defines the industry standard for constructing an ICS network architecture that prioritizes Operational Technology (OT) security. This model segregates the network into distinct layers, maintaining a hierarchical data flow between them.

In other words, the Purdue model organizes these levels to facilitate a clean and comprehensive approach to effective OT security. Below are table to help you easily understand the zones and security measures needed to fortify your environment with the help of Check Point:

The OT Zone (Internal Segments Level 3 & below) The IT Zone (Perimeter Security Levels 4 & 5)
Focuses on controlling physical processes and devices in industrial environments, ensuring smooth operations. It includes components like PLCs, sensors, and SCADA systems, operating in real-time, closed-loop networks.

  • Level 0: Field Devices: At the lowest level are physical devices and sensors responsible for collecting data and initiating actions.
  • Level 1: Controller Devices: The second level houses controllers like Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) responsible for processing data from field devices.
  • Level 2: Operations Level: This level is the heart of system control, where Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems operate.
  • Level 3: Supervisory Level: This level focuses on production management, overseeing multiple sites or processes.
 Focuses on managing digital information and administrative functions within an organization, using general-purpose devices like servers and laptops. IT systems traditionally operate in office environments with diverse data traffic and open networks.

  • Level 4: Site Business Planning: At this level, the focus shifts to business operations, encompassing decisions and activities related to site management.
  • Level 5: Enterprise Business Planning: The highest level pertains to corporate business decisions, impacting the entire organization’s strategic planning.

 

Integrating Security
Level 4 and 5 – IT Zone (Perimeter Security) At the outermost level of the Purdue model (Perimeter), robust security measures are imperative. This level acts as the first line of defense against cyber threats. Here are the key security considerations:

  • Sandboxing Technologies: Implementing sandboxing technologies is paramount at this level. These technologies, coupled with SSL/TLS inspection, provide essential protection by scrutinizing incoming and outgoing traffic for malicious activity. By isolating and analyzing potentially harmful code, sandboxing ensures that threats are neutralized before they can penetrate deeper into the network.
Level 3 and below – OT Zone (Internal Segments) Beyond the Perimeter, as we move into the Internal Segments (Levels 3 and below), the focus shifts to safeguarding the core of the ICS infrastructure. This is where most of your critical assets reside. To establish a resilient defense, consider the following security measures:

  • Firewall: Implement a robust firewall solution with microsegmentation capabilities to control network traffic and establish access control security policies with granular precision. Microsegmentation divides your network into isolated segments, each with its own security policies, enhancing defense. Security zones are created to protect critical assets.
  • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Deploy an IPS to actively monitor network traffic, detect suspicious patterns, and take immediate action to prevent potential threats from infiltrating your network.
  • Identity Awareness: Strengthen your security posture by incorporating Identity Awareness. This technology verifies and validates user identities, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access critical systems.
  • Application Control: Exercise granular control over the applications running on your network. Application Control enables you to manage and secure SCADA traffic and provide an additional layer of defense against potential threats.
  • Sandboxing for Zero-Day Protection: Prioritize the use of sandboxing technologies in internal segments as well. These technologies, effective against zero-day attacks, are essential to neutralize emerging threats that traditional security measures might miss.
Manufacturing Plants Manufacturing plants represent a unique environment within the ICS landscape. These facilities typically integrate both Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) within a single site. With this convergence, it’s crucial to recognize the following:

  • Manufacturing plants often combine OT and IT systems, creating a complex ecosystem. This integration requires a holistic security approach that bridges the gap between these domains.
Utilities & Energy In contrast to manufacturing plants, utilities and energy sectors operate across distributed environments, connecting numerous remote sites to a central facility. When securing these environments, be sure to keep in mind the following considerations:

  • Utilities and energy operations span multiple remote sites, presenting unique challenges. Bandwidth constraints and remote connectivity issues must be carefully considered when planning your security architecture.

 

Why Check Point?

Vulnerabilities in ICS and OT networks have made them attractive targets for various types of cyberattacks, including tailored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attacks, traditional malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks. Check Point provides comprehensive ICS security, offering a broad range of cybersecurity solutions. Check Point’s threat prevention technologies have a 99.7% catch rate of Gen-V cyberattacks and provide full visibility of connected assets in a unified Infinity cybersecurity architecture. Check Point Quantum 1595R provides full visibility and granular control of all network traffic to prevent attacks on networks, devices, and logical processes. These appliances are managed via the latest R80 Security Management software, which supports zero-touch deployment and centralized network management via its intuitive web-based user interface.

Other key features of Quantum Rugged 1595R Security Gateways:

  • Unparalleled Threat Prevention: 400 Mbps performance; extensive asset discovery; strict IT-OT segmentation; and 300+ IPS signatures for malicious traffic detection in OT settings
  • Built for ICS: Monitor and control for 1,800 SCADA and ICS protocols, ensures diverse OT network connectivity, and promises unified OT-IT management with rapid deployment
  • Robust Design for Extreme Conditions: Compact 1U solid-state design, operational between -40°C to +75°C, certified to stringent specifications, and equipped for maximum resilience with features like Dual SIM and eSIM

The new Quantum Rugged 1595R Security Gateways are available immediately: https://www.checkpoint.com/quantum/next-generation-firewall/industrial-control-systems-appliances/

 

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