Smart Cybersecurity

Smart Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure

The increasing digitalization of critical infrastructure in sectors like oil and gas, mining, and water has heightened their exposure to cyber threats. This article explores the application of smart cybersecurity solutions to protect these infrastructures, highlighting the most recommended technologies and best practices implemented.

Introduction

Critical infrastructures are essential systems and assets whose incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating impact on a nation's security, economy, and public health. In the oil and gas, mining, and water sectors, they are vital for the continuous supply of fundamental resources and services. The increasing digitalization and automation of these sectors have significantly improved operational efficiency and responsiveness, but they have also increased the attack surface for cyber threats. The interconnection of industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technologies (OT) with information technologies (IT) has created an environment where cyberattacks can have severe physical consequences.

Problem

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure. These attacks can range from industrial espionage to sabotage, causing operational disruptions and environmental damage. In the oil and gas sector, for example, a cyberattack could halt production, cause oil spills, and endanger worker safety. In mining, attacks could disrupt supply chains and affect the local and national economy. In the water sector, a cyberattack could compromise the quality of drinking water, endangering public health. To better understand the magnitude of these risks, it is crucial to examine recent data on cyber incidents and security breaches.

This article aims to explore the application of smart cybersecurity solutions to protect critical infrastructure. By focusing on the oil and gas, mining, and water sectors, it seeks to identify the most effective technologies and best practices to mitigate cyber risks, providing a comprehensive guide for implementing robust and adaptive security measures in these essential sectors.

Data on Incidents and Security Breaches

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Some findings to consider based on the Verizon Business DBIR report (Verizon Business, 2024) are as follows:

• A record number of over 10,000 data breaches were recorded across 94 countries.
• 68% of breaches involved a non-malicious human element, either through social engineering or error.
• 31% of breaches over the last 10 years involved the use of stolen access credentials.
• 32% of breaches in 2023 involved some form of extortion technique, including ransomware.
• The exploitation of vulnerabilities as an initial step to access information infrastructure grew by 180% compared to the previous year.
• 15% of security breaches involved third parties, such as service providers, data custodians, hosting, or software supply chain issues.
• Users fall for phishing attacks in under 60 seconds.
• Organizations take about 55 days to remediate 50% of critical vulnerabilities after patches become available.
• The average loss associated with financially motivated incidents involving ransomware or extortion was USD $46,000.
• The average loss attributed to business email compromise in 2022 and 2023 was around USD $50,000.

This report highlights the increasing complexity and dangers of the cyber threat landscape, identifying the need for more training, careful selection of third-party providers, faster responses to vulnerabilities, and better protection against phishing and the use of stolen access credentials.

Cyber Threats in Critical Infrastructure

Critical infrastructures face a variety of cyber threats that can compromise the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of their systems, with potentially devastating consequences. Some of the most common threats include:

• Economically Motivated Cyberattacks: Approximately 75% of attacks on critical infrastructure are economically motivated, particularly targeting private companies that may be willing to pay ransoms to recover their systems. These attacks include malware, ransomware, and other forms of digital extortion software (Industrial Cybersecurity Center, 2022).
• State-Sponsored Groups: Many cyberattacks on critical infrastructure are carried out by groups affiliated with governments, aiming to cause significant disruptions. These attacks are often well-planned and may use advanced techniques to infiltrate systems and remain undetected, known as Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) (Barrio, 2023).
• Terrorism and Sabotage: Critical infrastructures are also targets of terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage. These attacks may be politically or ideologically motivated, seeking to cause physical or psychological harm to society (LISA Institute, 2024), (Barrio, 2023).
• System Vulnerabilities: Many critical infrastructures operate with legacy systems and equipment, making them susceptible to attacks. The lack of updates and adequate defenses contributes to their vulnerability (Rockwell Automation, 2024).
• Social Engineering: Techniques such as phishing or spear phishing are used to trick organization members into granting access to critical systems. These methods are common and can be highly effective in compromising the security of infrastructures (Ramos, 2020).
• Dark Web Threats: Monitoring the Dark Web allows cybercriminals to exchange information about vulnerabilities and attack plans. This area of the internet is a resource for obtaining tools and services that facilitate cyberattacks (Barrio, 2023).

Vulnerabilities in SCADA and OT Systems

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and Operational Technologies (OT) are critical components in the operation of industrial infrastructure. The main vulnerabilities identified in these systems are listed. To mitigate these vulnerabilities and protect critical infrastructure, it is essential to implement advanced cybersecurity technologies. Below are some of the identified vulnerabilities:

• Exposed Connectivity: The interconnection of SCADA systems to IT networks and the internet has increased their exposure to cyberattacks. This connectivity can allow malicious actors to access critical systems, endangering security and operational continuity (Immune Technology Institute, 2023) (Sánchez, 2020).
• Lack of Strong Authentication: Many SCADA systems lack strong authentication mechanisms, making unauthorized access easier. Implementing multi-factor authentication is essential to mitigate this risk (Immune Technology Institute, 2023) (Sánchez, 2020).
• Legacy Technologies and Protocols: Many devices and systems in OT environments were designed before cybersecurity was a priority, meaning they may not have adequate security updates. This includes outdated software/hardware that does not receive security updates or patches, making them vulnerable to attacks (Aggity, 2024) (Sánchez, 2020). On the other hand, legacy SCADA systems often use communication protocols that were not designed with security in mind, which can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access or disrupt operations (Lightech, n.d.).
• Insufficient Network Segmentation: The lack of proper segmentation between critical and non-critical networks can allow an attack to spread easily across the infrastructure. Segmentation is crucial to contain potential security breaches (Immune Technology Institute, 2023).
• Insufficient Monitoring: Constant monitoring of networks and systems is essential to detect suspicious activities. Without intrusion detection and response systems, organizations may not be aware of an attack until it is too late (Immune Technology Institute, 2023) (Sánchez, 2020).
• Interaction with IoT Devices: The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in industrial environments can increase the attack surface. These devices often have less protection and can be an entry point for cybercriminals (Fortinet, 2024) (Immune Technology Institute, 2023).

Cybersecurity Technologies

To mitigate these threats, critical infrastructures can benefit from a range of advanced cybersecurity technologies. Some of the most notable include:

• Zero Trust Methodology: Avoid implicit trust in any network, requiring authentication and authorization for each user and device (Stratus Technologies, 2021).
• Access and Credential Management: Implementation of mitigation measures for user credential rotation and access management to critical assets (Stratus Technologies, 2021) (Rockwell Automation, 2024) (Pozas, 2021) (EPA, 2024).
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Requiring multiple authentication methods to access critical systems, such as biometrics, passwords, and security tokens, to prevent unauthorized access (INCIBE, 2024) (Idrica, 2024).
• Software Update and Patch Protocols: Keeping industrial and business control and security software up to date to patch known vulnerabilities (Nubiral, 2024) (Juniper Networks, 2024).
• Asset Location and Search Services: Use of technologies such as virtual Bluetooth Low Energy (vBLE) to quickly locate key assets in production (Juniper Networks, 2024).
• Event Correlation and Packet Capture: Use of artificial intelligence for proactive problem resolution, correlating events and dynamically capturing network packets in real-time (Juniper Networks, 2024) (Idrica, 2024).
• Network Segmentation: Dividing the network into logical segments to limit lateral movement of potential attackers and contain the impact of an incident (Pozas, 2021).
• Smart Traffic Routing: Use of session-based routing with smart technology to manage voice, video, and data across multiple locations and different types of networks in a cost-effective manner (Juniper Networks, 2024).
• Threat Detection and Prevention: Unifying IT/OT network elements into a single logical network capable of detecting threats that protect users and critical assets (Radiflow team, 2021).
• Penetration Testing and Simulations: Conducting numerous simulations and penetration tests to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities specific to each network (Radiflow team, 2021).
• Monitoring Operational Parameter Variations: Automated monitoring of abnormal changes in processes and operational parameters that could indicate malicious manipulation of control systems (Idrica, 2024) (Nicaise, 2024).
• Cybersecurity Training for Stakeholders: Continuous training for personnel throughout the organization

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Use Cases

Oil and Gas Sector

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OT Infrastructure Protection (Operational Technology):

·    Complete Visibility: Continuous monitoring of operational assets to detect and mitigate threats.

·    Threat Intelligence: Utilizing policy, anomaly, and signature-based detection technologies to identify suspicious behaviors.

·   Security Integration: Integration with IT security systems for a cooperative ecosystem.

Supply Chain Security:

·    Operational Data Monitoring: Constantly monitoring temperature, pressure, and chemical composition to prevent leaks and other incidents.

·    Communication Protection: Ensuring the integrity of data communications and protecting domain names.

·    Software Updates: Maintaining software assets, controlling applications, versions, and using automated virtual patching tools.

Water Sector

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Risk Assessments:

·    Identifying Vulnerabilities: Conducting regular assessments to identify vulnerabilities and potential threats to both physical and logical data infrastructure, as well as the resource itself.

·    Device Analysis: Tracking assets involved in the installation to identify potential security gaps and establish appropriate security plans based on the types of facilities, whether for water extraction or treatment.

Continuous Monitoring:

·    Real-Time Detection: Implementing monitoring systems to detect suspicious access or operational activities in real-time.

·    Constant Supervision: Continuous monitoring of information and operational parameters in OT environments to detect deviations in the normal course of operations.

Mining Sector

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Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Protection:

·    Operation Isolation: Isolating infected operations to assess and mitigate the impact of attacks.

·    Credential Security: Protecting remote access credentials to prevent unauthorized access.

Supply Chain Security:

·    Software and Hardware Analysis: Conducting security tests that include third-party software and hardware analysis.

·    Comprehensive Protection: Enhancing software and hardware protection from the design phase.

Commo Across Sectors

Risk Management:

·    Risk Assessment: Evaluating business risks and critical assets to establish an appropriate security framework.

·    Risk Balance: Balancing organizational risk appetite with necessary controls for effective management.

Training and Awareness:

·    Cybersecurity Culture: Promoting a cybersecurity culture within the organization.

·    Continuous Training: Regular cybersecurity training for staff to improve incident response.

Conclusion

The increasing digitization of critical infrastructures in sectors such as oil and gas, mining, and water has exposed these organizations to a rise in cyber threats. Implementing smart cybersecurity solutions becomes essential to safeguard these vital systems, which are crucial to society's safety and well-being.

Cyberattacks have evolved in both frequency and sophistication, leading to the need for a comprehensive approach that combines advanced technologies, robust security practices, and ongoing staff training. The literature review highlights the importance of implementing methodologies such as zero trust, multi-factor authentication, and network segmentation, as well as the need for conducting security audits and simulations to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.

For Apollocom, the implementation of smart cybersecurity solutions is essential to safeguard critical infrastructures. We adopt a comprehensive approach that combines advanced technologies, robust security practices, and continuous staff training as key elements to ensure the organization’s resilience against emerging cyber threats that your business may face, making Technology Integrated with Intelligence®. Contact us for more information.

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