How to ensure the secure integration of IT and OT

In today's rapidly developing industrial environment, the integration of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) has become a key force in promoting the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. This integration has not only promoted the improvement of production efficiency, but also brought unprecedented cybersecurity challenges. This article aims to explore the current status of IT and OT integration, the cybersecurity risks faced, and propose a feasible security integration strategy.

The definition of operational technology (OT) emphasizes its core role in industrial environments, which is to directly monitor and control equipment, assets, processes and events to detect or change physical processes. The application range of this technology covers both hardware and software aspects, and its main purpose is to ensure industrial automation and efficiency.

Under this definition, the "direct" role of OT is reflected in its management and operation of industrial control systems, which include but are not limited to programmable logic controllers (PLCs), distributed control systems (DCSs), and supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADAs). These systems and technologies together constitute the infrastructure of OT, which is responsible for collecting data, performing automation tasks, and ensuring the continuity and stability of industrial processes.

In contrast to OT is information technology (IT), which mainly serves the management level of the enterprise, including hardware, software, network and communication technology. IT systems are responsible for storing, processing and distributing information, ensuring the flow of information and collaboration between departments within the enterprise.

Between IT and OT are the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and the Manufacturing Operations Management System (MOM). These systems act as a bridge, connecting the management and production sites of the enterprise, ensuring the accurate execution of production instructions, while collecting production data and feeding it back to the management to facilitate decision-making and optimize the production process.

The Current State of IT and OT Integration

With the widespread application of new technologies such as "cloud, big data, Internet of Things, mobile, and intelligence" in the industrial field, the deep integration of IT and OT has become a reality. As a representative of this integration, the Industrial Internet has not only changed the way industrial production is managed, but also had a profound impact on operational decision-making and manufacturing execution. For example, through the implementation of cloud platforms, enterprises can reduce costs, improve equipment safety and predictive maintenance capabilities, and improve the efficiency of business decisions.

Cybersecurity risks

However, with the integration of IT and OT, network security risks have also increased. From the application level, the openness of the industrial Internet exposes the business logic within the enterprise to the network and makes it vulnerable to attack. At the network level, the interconnection of IT and OT networks has brought about the mutual penetration of security risks. For example, the GSM network card used in the IoT terminal has the risk of data being intercepted. At the device level, the vulnerabilities and defects of the industrial control system make it easy for malicious programs to spread. At the data level, the leakage and abuse of sensitive information have become new threats.

Security Convergence Strategy

To address these risks, enterprises need to adopt a series of security integration measures. Here are some specific technologies and cases:

• Integration of security basic technologies: Adopting domestic cryptographic technology and security and trustworthy technology, we can achieve deep integration of security encryption protection technology and industrial control core components. For example, we can protect PLC and RTU through lightweight encryption algorithms to ensure the security of communication and the integrity of data.
• Data fusion: At the data collection level, a "front probe" can be developed to collect data from both IT and OT to achieve unified data representation and analysis. At the data processing level, a general analysis model is established to combine the threat intelligence library to conduct abnormal behavior analysis and risk assessment. For example, the data of industrial control systems can be analyzed through machine learning algorithms to identify potential security threats.
• Situational integration: Build a unified visual interface to display enterprise system assets, vulnerabilities, threats and other information, and achieve coordinated response and disposal of high security risks. For example, through the situational awareness platform that integrates IT and OT, network attacks can be discovered and responded to in a timely manner.

The secure integration of IT and OT is an important starting point for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. Enterprises should strengthen the standardization of IT and OT technology integration and establish a complete security assurance system. By implementing the above strategies, the security of industrial control systems can be effectively improved and the safe operation of industrial production can be guaranteed. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology, we look forward to seeing more innovative security solutions to meet the increasingly complex network security challenges.