THE CHALLENGE
The lifespan of OT equipment is generally much longer compared to IT hardware, and software updates can be disruptive if at all possible. This often results in legacy equipment and unpatched software, leaving critical infrastructure open to attack.
The manufacturing industry must realise that unsecured operational environments can not only cause disruption and financial damage, but can also cause physical and environmental harm. Not to mention the reputational damage when trade secrets or sensitive data are stolen.
The MTC is looking to expand its OT Cyber Security capabilities, in partnership with a range of technology providers, retaining a vendor agnostic approach in order to support companies to become more secure in a financially viable way.
THE MTC'S SOLUTION
- The MTC is implementing a strategy roadmap to tackle the main challenges of Cyber Security within manufacturing.
- Leveraging valuable relationships, the MTC has acquired licences and equipment which provide network monitoring (including industrial wireless and radio frequency), specifically tailored to OT environments.
- The MTC’s demonstration cells and testbeds are the perfect location for testing and analysing these technologies, with genuine OT network traffic and lower risks.
THE OUTCOME
- Increased knowledge of available OT cyber security technologies and understanding the scope of their capabilities.
- Improved technical knowledge of network monitoring architectures and how to effectively implement the necessary technologies.
- Enhanced relationships with technology providers by showcasing offerings within MTC.
- New partnerships with expert Cyber Security companies for further research and exploitation opportunities.
- Collaboration with technology providers to enhance their products and meet roadmap objectives.
- Improved view of our network vulnerabilities and current blind spots in airspace (RF) monitoring.
BENEFITS TO THE CLIENT
- Increased visibility of available technologies and their most suited applications for interested companies (e.g. SMEs, larger companies).
- Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of available monitoring technologies.
- Improved technical skillset for secure monitoring of OT assets and environments.
- Technical skillsets developed can be applied in future customer research projects.
- Capability built for setting up monitoring architectures within OT environments.
- Competence built around the configuration of network monitoring technologies.
- Understanding and identification of network vulnerabilities within OT environments.
