NETWORK SEGMENTATION – WELCOME TO CNB TELECOM

OT NETWORK SEGMENTATION

Enhance security by segregating and segmenting OT networks into trusted and untrusted zones and stopping attacks from propagating throughout your industrial control system networks.

OT Network Segmentation Overview

Network segmentation is an architectural strategy that divides a network into multiple segments, or subnets, each operating as its own small network. This setup enables traffic flow between segments to be controlled through specifically configured policies, commonly known as firewall rules. Organizations implement segmentation to improve monitoring, boost performance, localize technical issues, and—most critically—enhance security.

Why OT Network Segmentation is Crucial

Many Operational Technology (OT) networks in use today were constructed during an era when an “air gap”—complete isolation from IT systems and the internet—was considered adequate security. Consequently, many OT assets are “insecure by design” because security was not a primary concern at the time of their creation. However, malicious actors are increasingly aware of these vulnerabilities. They exploit them through digital transformation initiatives, increased connectivity, and the convergence of IT and OT systems.

The Evolving Threat Landscape

Attacks on OT environments show no signs of abating. Recent research by a prominent security firm revealed an almost 100% increase in new ransomware variants in the first half of 2022 compared to the previous six months. This surge underscores the urgent need for robust security measures like network segmentation.

Benefits of OT Network Segmentation

Enhanced Security: By isolating critical OT systems from the broader network, segmentation significantly reduces the attack surface available to cyber adversaries. This containment strategy helps prevent the spread of malware and other threats.
Improved Monitoring: Segmentation allows for more granular monitoring of network traffic, enabling quicker detection and response to suspicious activities.
Performance Optimization: Smaller network segments can improve overall network performance by reducing congestion and minimizing the impact of network issues on critical systems.
Localized Issue Management: Segmentation helps localize technical issues, making troubleshooting more efficient and minimizing the impact on the entire network.

Implementing Network Segmentation in OT Environments

Effective network segmentation in OT environments requires a thorough understanding of both IT and OT systems, along with the specific operational requirements of industrial processes. Here’s a structured approach to implementing network segmentation:
1. Asset Identification: Identify and catalog all assets within the OT environment, including their network communication patterns and dependencies.
2. Risk Assessment: Conduct a risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities and the criticality of different assets to operations.
3. Design Segmentation Strategy: Develop a segmentation strategy that considers both security and operational needs. This involves defining subnet boundaries and creating policies for inter-segment communication.
4. Policy Configuration: Configure firewall rules and other security policies to control traffic flow between segments. Ensure these policies are aligned with the overall security objectives.
5. Monitoring and Maintenance: Continuously monitor network traffic and segment interactions to ensure compliance with security policies and to detect any anomalies. Regularly update and refine segmentation strategies as needed.
By adopting network segmentation, organizations can create a more secure and resilient OT environment, better protecting critical infrastructure from the growing threat of cyber attacks.

Why Implement OT Network Segmentation?

Network segmentation is a critical strategy for organizations aiming to mitigate unauthorized access and ransomware threats in operational technology (OT) environments. By dividing OT networks into distinct segments, this approach effectively prevents unauthorized traffic and safeguards essential OT assets and sensitive data, such as Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), SCADA systems, and vital repositories like proprietary recipes and trade secrets.

OT network segmentation enhances security by establishing both physical and logical barriers within the OT environment. This involves isolating multiple OT networks (known as security zoning) from each other and from external networks such as corporate IT and third-party connections, including inter-facility links.

Our Network Segmentation service aims to bolster security by halting the spread of attacks within the OT network and protecting vulnerable assets. Effective segmentation prevents malware from proliferating across systems and networks, thereby reducing network congestion and enhancing overall performance. This is particularly crucial in industrial settings like manufacturing plants, power generation facilities, and oil rigs.

Implementing network segmentation in OT environments presents challenges, especially in environments with diverse vendor assets and varying network designs. Despite these complexities, deploying the right tools, technologies, and processes enables successful segmentation and security.

NIST 800-53 and OT Network Segmentation Overview: NIST 800-53, a cybersecurity framework by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), advocates network segmentation as a pivotal measure for limiting the impact of cyber incidents. By partitioning networks into smaller, isolated zones with specific security controls, organizations can curtail lateral movement by attackers and safeguard critical assets.

Key Advantages of OT Network Segmentation:

Delaying Attack Progression: Effective segmentation buys time during cyber incidents, impeding attackers from accessing desired assets quickly.
Implementing Least Privilege: Strong segmentation facilitates precise access controls, safeguarding critical OT assets against insider and external threats.
Mitigating Breach Impact: Segmenting networks minimizes the scope of breaches, reducing recovery efforts and mitigating potential damage.
Enhancing Data Security: Segmenting networks protects sensitive OT data, reducing risks of data loss or theft.
Improving Network Performance: Granular control over traffic flows enhances performance and reliability by reducing congestion and optimizing connectivity.

Deliverables from Our OT Network Segmentation Service: Our service includes:

Comprehensive network discovery and analysis
Creation of security zones and conduit diagrams
Development of current and target network architecture diagrams
Logical segmentation proposals, including IP subnetting and VLAN plans
Tactical and strategic recommendations for technology solutions

What is OT Network Segmentation?

OT network segmentation is the process of dividing an OT network into smaller, isolated subnetworks or zones, each with its own set of security controls, to improve overall network security.

What are the Main Purposes of Network Segmentation?

Limiting access privileges to those who truly need it.
Protecting the network from widespread cyberattacks.
Boosting network performance by reducing the number of hosts and users in specific zones.

Why is Network Segmentation Important for Cybersecurity?

OT network segmentation is particularly important because it helps limit the spread of cyberattacks or other security incidents that might compromise the network’s availability, confidentiality, or integrity.By segmenting networks, it becomes easier to protect your critical OT systems and data. The creation of a layer of separation between servers used by critical OT systems, other systems and everything outside of your network can do wonders to reduce your risk of production shutdown or data loss or theft.

What are the Types of Network Segmentation?

There are two types of network segmentation: Physical and Virtual.

Physical segmentation uses dedicated hardware to build segments. While physical segmentation is the most secure method, it is also the most difficult to manage.

Virtual network segmentation covers the entire network, not just at the perimeter. Switches manage the virtual local area network environment, and firewalls are shared, reducing the required hardware.

What are the Benefits of Network Segmentation?

Overall, network segmentation’s major benefit is in the area of security, with manageability and performance also a consideration. Network segmentation by virtualisation increases security in several ways, including the following:

Better isolation;
Better containment;
Better access control;
Improved monitoring;
Reduced complexity;
Easier management.

What are the Risks of Unsegmented OT Networks?

All of the equipment in a facility is interconnected and forms a flat network. There is no compartmentalisation, segmentation, distinction, or prioritising since any device can “speak” to any other device. Malware can easily propagate across assets resulting in potential production shutdown.

What is the Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture (PERA) Model?

In a nutshell, the PERA model (an industry framework for segmenting OT networks) promotes process automation, business intelligence adoption, and effective cyber risk mitigation. It effectively aligns OT and IT departments — and strengthens the security posture of an entire organisation. Essentially, the PERA model guides micro-segmentation security policies by grouping assets into zones that share common security requirements.

In the PERA model, the industrial network is divided into 4 zones and 6 levels. A fifth zone, the Safety Zone, is only relevant for nuclear power stations; 95% of installations don’t include this zone in their PERA models.

What is Micro-Segmentation?

Micro-segmentation is a security strategy that involves dividing a network into small segments and applying security controls to each segment to protect against threats that might originate from within the network.

How Does Micro-Segmentation Differ from Traditional Network Segmentation?

Traditional network segmentation typically involves dividing a network into larger subnetworks or zones, while micro-segmentation divides the network into much smaller segments to provide more granular security controls.

What are the Benefits of Micro-Segmentation?

Micro-segmentation can help improve network security by limiting the lateral movement of threats within the network, reducing the attack surface, and enabling more granular access controls.

What are Some Common Challenges Associated with OT Network Segmentation?

Common challenges include the need to balance security with operational requirements, the complexity of managing multiple security policies and controls, and the potential for increased costs and complexity associated with deploying and managing segmented networks.

What are the Best Practices for OT Network Segmentation?

Identify critical assets: Start by identifying the most critical assets and systems in your OT environment, and prioritize them for segmentation.
Develop a segmentation plan: Create a detailed plan for how you will segment your OT network, including the specific subnetworks or zones that you will create and the security controls that will be applied to each segment.
Use a risk-based approach: Take a risk-based approach to network segmentation, focusing on the areas of your network that are most vulnerable to cyberattacks or other security incidents.
Use network segmentation tools: Use network segmentation tools and technologies, such as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and access control lists (ACL), to segment your network and enforce security policies.
Apply the principle of least privilege: Apply the principle of least privilege when designing your security policies, limiting access to critical assets and systems only to those who need it.
Monitor and audit your network: Regularly monitor and audit your network to ensure that your security policies and controls are being properly enforced, and to identify any potential security gaps or vulnerabilities.
Regularly update your security policies: Review and update your security policies and controls regularly to ensure that they are up-to-date with the latest threats and vulnerabilities.

OT NETWORK SEGMENTATION

OT Network Segmentation Overview

Why OT Network Segmentation is Crucial

The Evolving Threat Landscape

Benefits of OT Network Segmentation

Implementing Network Segmentation in OT Environments

Why Implement OT Network Segmentation?

Key Advantages of OT Network Segmentation:

Deliverables from Our OT Network Segmentation Service: Our service includes:

What is OT Network Segmentation?

What are the Main Purposes of Network Segmentation?

Why is Network Segmentation Important for Cybersecurity?

What are the Types of Network Segmentation?

What are the Benefits of Network Segmentation?

What are the Risks of Unsegmented OT Networks?

What is the Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture (PERA) Model?

What is Micro-Segmentation?

How Does Micro-Segmentation Differ from Traditional Network Segmentation?

What are the Benefits of Micro-Segmentation?

What are Some Common Challenges Associated with OT Network Segmentation?

What are the Best Practices for OT Network Segmentation?

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