Changing Needs in OT Cybersecurity
When Stuxnet, a computer worm targeting SCADA and PLC systems, paralyzed a nuclear
program in the Middle East in 2010, the incident served as a wake-up call that the OT
(operational technology) industry was not immune to malware and other IT security risks. In
fact, the stakes are even higher when critical infrastructure is involved, elevating the risk to
national security level. For this reason, today’s OT network security and operational security
must stay ahead of the game to protect critical infrastructure from new and constantly
evolving threats.
Not only did the number of malware attacks and other security incidents increase in recent
years, the nature of cyberthreats also evolved with the changing and increasingly challenging
ICS (industrial control system) environment. From the targeted ICS attacks of the past to
random extortion executed by worms, it becomes increasingly difficult to identify the motive of
attacks and formulate appropriate defense strategies.
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