Risks SCADA Systems Face and Mitigation Processes
SCADA refers to ICS, which are used to control infrastructure processes. These systems gather and process data that a human operator can use to control processes. Due to the vital role these systems play in critical infrastructure, it’s imperative to establish ways to mitigate the risks they may face (SCADA systems).
SCADA Risks
A big risk that SCADA systems face is malware. This can include viruses, spyware, and ransomware, all things that can disrupt and manipulate the system’s behavior (Claroty, 2024). Due to SCADA systems often having poorly implemented OT remote access controls, threats of gaining unauthorized access to a system is another risk that should be considered (Claroty, 2024). Furthermore, risks show up during times when third-parties are granted access to a system, such as maintenance, leaving vulnerabilities open for hackers to exploit (Claroty, 2024). Lastly, an organization not being able to or failing to meet industry standards can leave it open to both legal and regulatory consequences. Although this might seem simple; unfortunately, due to the complex nature these standards occasionally have, it can be hard for an organization to live up to them (Claroty, 2024).
Mitigating Actions
One way an organization can mitigate these risks is to have a clear vision of all assets that compromise a systems environment. Clearly defining these assets, and the organization’s cybersecurity objectives can help them build a strong foundation for risk management (Claroty, 2024). Another way is for organization to implement an accurate risk management tool that accurately accounts specifically for risks they may face and the factors that can either increase or decrease that vulnerability, allowing them to clearly define the security status of their operational technology systems (Claroty, 2024). Lastly, an organization should begin to rank the risks they may face, prioritizing some over others. This should not only account for the amount of damage that a threat could potentially manage to do but also the likelihood of it occurring, as not to allocate too many resources on something that might never actually occur. Once a clear view of their risk spectrum is established, it will allow an organization to take more control of its risk environment, establishing a sturdy cybersecurity posture (Claroty, 2024).
Conclusion
The most important thing an organization can do in order to mitigate risk against their SCADA systems is to have a clear risk profile. Clarity in their own systems and technology as well as the risks that pertain to them is pertinent in establishing effective cybersecurity measures.
References
SCADA systems. SCADA Systems. (n.d.). https://www.scadasystems.net/
Team, T. C. (2024, July 30). Scada Risk Management: Protecting Critical Infrastructure. Claroty. https://claroty.com/blog/scada-risk-management-protecting-critical-infrastructure