Asset visibility and threat detection have become synonymous with OT security and efficiency over the years. An increasing number of organizations have shifted their focus to real-time asset visibility solutions, not just for compliance mandates, but to ensure their industrial/OT environments are resilient to unexpected changes and remain safe for personnel.
So why is a visibility and threat detection platform a core component of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy for an industrial environment? The answer varies depending on the perspective:
- Plant and site managers emphasize operational continuity.
- CISOs prioritize regulatory compliance and a mature security posture.
- Cybersecurity professionals highlight advanced threat intelligence and mitigation.
The short answer is that asset visibility and threat detection tools are no longer optional features, but essential requirements for a strong security posture in industrial/OT environments.
How Does Asset Visibility Work?
- Comprehensive Asset Identification: Ensure accurate, up-to-date information on all OT devices, systems, and applications
- Establishing a Behavioral Baseline: Detect anomalies by establishing a baseline of normal asset behavior and communications between assets
- Efficient Vulnerability Management: Pinpoint and prioritize critical vulnerabilities in the OT environment
- Advanced Real-Time Threat Detection: Continuously monitor assets to detect potential cyberthreats
- Strategic Network Segmentation: Segment and isolate critical assets to restrict lateral attacker movement
- Rapid Incidence Response: Quickly identify, contain, and recover from cyberattacks
- Effective Change Management: Ensure new assets are correctly configured and integrated into your security framework
- Agile Patch Management: Prioritize devices and systems for effective and quick patching
- Reduced Downtime Risks: Quickly recover and resume operations during disruptions or cyberattacks.
By building a resilient foundation for OT security, asset visibility and threat detection platforms ensure critical industrial environments can stay safe from unknown threats and prepared for them should they arise.
The Role of Asset Visibility Platforms in Efficiency and Resilience
Asset visibility platforms are indispensable tools when it comes to providing comprehensive, real-time insights into asset status and operations. These platforms empower organizations to optimize their inventory management, enhance threat detection, ensure compliance with industry standards, and improve overall operational resilience.
Improved Asset visibility
Inventory Management
Asset visibility tools provide real-time visibility of all assets within the OT network, allowing for accurate and up-to-date inventory management. Knowing what assets are present in the network and their operational status is essential for resource allocation and maintenance schedule (if needed).
Identifying Known and Unknown Threats
Without asset visibility, it is nearly impossible to have complete visibility into the assets and communications within your OT network. This leaves organizations wide open to vulnerabilities, threats, and insider errors, putting the entire company at risk.
Anomaly Detection
Continuous monitoring allows for the identification of anomalies or deviations from normal operations. Early detection of potential issues can prevent minor problems from escalating into major failures.
Enhanced Threat Detection
OT Threat Prevention
The number of cyberattacks on OT environments is growing steadily year over year. Threat detection tools help detect, identify and mitigate cyberthreats before they can cause significant damage. Unauthorized access, malware, and other malicious activities can be detected and remediated as needed.
Reduce Response and Remediation Times
Complete visibility into your OT network, assets, and communications flowing between assets allows you to detect and respond to cyberattacks, supply chain violations, internal access errors, etc. faster and more accurately. In the event of an anomalous event and/or security breach, you can quickly determine which devices are affected, what occurred, and then take necessary steps to prevent the attack from spreading, safeguarding your entire network from complete shutdown.
Industrial Compliance Adherence
All industrial/OT organizations have standards they need to comply with to ensure they can function effectively and securely. These compliance regulations vary based on industry and location and are critical to establish basic guidelines for the organizations to function. Asset visibility gives you the freedom to monitor and manage assets across geographically distributed networks, helping organizations comply with standards like IEC-62443, NERC CIP, The US Executive Order and more.
Efficient Operations
Predictive maintenance
Asset visibility tools often allow monitoring asset health and performance. This enables maintenance prediction, reducing downtime and extending the lifespan of equipment. Scheduled maintenance based on actual conditions rather than fixed intervals enhances efficiency.
Resource Optimization
Granular visibility into asset usage and performance helps in better planning and allocation of resources. This ensures that assets are used effectively, reducing waste, optimizing costs, and improving overall efficiency.
Enhanced Resilience
Real-Time Monitoring
Continuous monitoring of OT environments ensures that any hazards, to personnel or systems, are detected early. This includes detecting equipment malfunctions, environmental hazards, and cyberattacks that could lead to potential downtimes or widespread and dangerous impacts to the OT environment.
Automated Alerts
Automated alerts and responses ensure that incidents are addressed promptly. For example, if a sensor detects an anomaly, the system can automatically shut down equipment to prevent damage or loss. Integration with IPS (Intrusion Prevention Systems) like MetaDefender Industrial Firewall can help prevent threats or misconfigurations from affecting OT systems by blocking them.
Training and Simulation
Data from asset visibility and threat detection tools can be used to create realistic training scenarios for operators. This improves their ability to respond to real-world incidents effectively and safely.
By providing detailed information into asset type and country of origin, enhancing cybersecurity measures, ensuring quick responses to hazards, and enabling regulatory compliance asset visibility platforms are foundational to building a resilient and secure industrial infrastructure.
OT Asset Visibility, Simplified
Designed for enterprise-level deployments, MetaDefender OT Security provides full visibility into your OT assets and networks, continuously discovering assets, and monitoring for threats, vulnerabilities, supply chain violations, and non-compliance issues.
Our AI-powered industrial asset and OT network visibility solution enables OT personnel to protect their critical environments and supply chain through asset discovery, inventory management, network visibility, and vulnerability and risk management.
Discover the critical advantage in OT cybersecurity—talk to an expert today for a free demo.
