Using Zscaler To Protect IOT, IIot and OT Environments
Introducing Zscaler's Cloud-based Security
Platform for IoT, IIoT and OT
Zscaler is a Cloud-based security platform that provides Zero Trust
protection for IoT/OT environments. While many OT environments have
stayed off the Internet as a security measure, that prevents
companies from taking advantage of Industry 4.0
trends around modernization, cost savings and digitization. Zscaler
can help!
All your IoT/OT devices would essentially sit behind Zscaler's Zero
Trust Exchange, so you can protect industrial control
systems, SCADA systems, factory and manufacturing lines and other
critical assets. Zscaler ensures these devices remain secure and
compliant, minimizing downtime, attacks and data loss
The Zscaler platform leverages a global Cloud that runs at the
edge of your devices for lightweight, fast connections which can
scale much faster than any other IoT/OT secure access solution on
the market.
What's Needed For Industry 4.0 Transformation
Terminology: IT vs. OT vs. IoT vs. IIoT
- IT (Information Technology) — Technology to support
business processes and communication
- Computing Infrastructure
- Software Applications – Email, Slack, Salesforce
- Networking and Cybersecurity
- OT (Operational Technology) — Technology to support
physical processes and machinery
- Manufacturing: mechanical arms, conveyor belts, assembly
lines
- Oil & Gas: pipelines, pumps, wind farms and solar arrays
- Utilities: Electricity, Water Treatment
- IoT (Internet of Things) — highly distributed, consumer
and enterprise internet-connected devices
- Thermostats, Smart TVs, Badge Readers, Video Cameras
- Smart Cities
- IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) — collection of
sensors, instruments and autonomous devices connected through the
Internet to industrial applications
- Barcode scanners, temperature sensors, security systems
Common Issues in IoT and OT
- Operational Technology (OT) environments are vulnerable to
cyber threats due to various factors including legacy systems that
were not designed with cybersecurity in mind, lack of
cybersecurity expertise and awareness, convergence of OT and IT
networks, remote access, human error, lack of visibility and
supply chain risks
- Many OT systems were designed and deployed before cybersecurity
became a major cause for concern, making them vulnerable to modern
cyber attacks. OT professionals may not have the necessary
cybersecurity knowledge to identify and mitigate risks.
- The convergence of IT and OT networks poses signifocant
challenges to securing OT environments. Remote access to OT
environments also exposes them to cyber threats. Human error can
also result in cyber attacks, making onjoing cyber awareness for
employees mandatory
- OT systems can be difficult to monitor, and supply chain risks
can be challenging to manage. Third party suppliers of OT systems
may not have adequate cybersecurity measures, making OT systems
vulnerable to attack
- IT and OT networks are often disparate systems, unable to track
activities holistically across an organization’s ecosystem as OT
network teams report to the COO, while IT network teams report to
the CIO. Each of the teams protects just half of the total
ecosystem, simultaneously dividing and duplicating security and
threat management efforts—and making it much more difficult to
protect the organization as a whole from cyberthreats.
How Do You Currently Address Cybersecurity
Concerns in Your IT/IOT/OT Environments?
- How is data moved between OT and IT systems, and is it good enough to support Industry 4.0 principles?
- Can data from OT and IOT systems feed directly into your IT systems?
- Are your OT systems such as PLCs, ICS and SCADA systems patched to current security levels?
- What will you need to do to enable real-time access to these systems?
- Will you endanger your IT systems by allowing access to your out-of-date OT systems
- What controls do you have in place for 3rd parties such as contractors and vendors to access to OT systems?
Zero Trust Solves IIoT and OT Use Cases
Zscaler can help secure OT (Operational Technology) environments
by providing a comprehensive security platform that can detect and
prevent cyber threats before they reach the OT environment.
Zscaler's cloud-based security architecture provides a secure and
direct access to the Internet, eliminating the need for backhauling
traffic through legacy security devices or appliances. It provided
a single pane of glass to manage security across all locations,
device and users, and enables seamless security operations.
Zscaler's zero-trust security model ensures that only authorized
devices and users can connect to the OT network, reducing the
attack surface and preventing unauthorized access. It can also help
secure IoT devices and other OT assets, ensuring they are compliant
with industry standards and regulations.
A zero trust approach is the most effective way to ensure robust
ICS and OT security and achieve IEC 62443 compliance with adaptive,
context-based application access that doesn’t depend on network
access. With an effective zero trust architecture in place, any
user can only access the applications and systems they need, with
no complex firewall stacks or VPNs required, all while your apps
and network stay invisible to the internet.
Zscaler solves IIoT and OT use cases by routing traffic through the
Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange (ZTE). This solves for
at least 5 differennt Use Cases
- Privileged Remote Access - Allow 3rd
parties to perform remote troubleshooting, monitoring and
maintenance
- Zero Trust access within factory floor - Allow
fast and direct access within the factory floor without
hairpinning to the Internet
- Device to Private Application Access - Enable
secure communication between OT systems and private applications
- Secure IIoT & OT Access to the Internet -
Enable IIoT, ICS and SCADA ssytems to securely share data with
public cloud applications
- Active Defenses for SCADA - Detect compromised
users and limit ransomware threats to OT systems
Safely Connect OT and IOT Environments to IT
to Enable Industry 4.0
Zscaler can enable secure interconnection between IT and OT environments whether you have implemented the Purdue model, or the more modern zone-based IEC62443 model for Zscaler provides tangible value to organizations with IoT/OT
environments, resulting in increased uptime, better safety, faster
resolution times, protected revenue and reduced risk. By utilizing
Zscaler's cloud-based security platform, businesses can protect their IoT/OT
environments from cyber threats while ensuring compliance, which
leads to greater customer trust and brand reputation.
Zscaler Benefits:
- Hybrid workforce security: Empower your users and external support staff to securely access web apps
and cloud services from any location or device, with a smooth user experience.
- Agentless access for third parties: Extend your secure private app access to vendors, contractors, suppliers, and more with support for unmanaged devices, with no endpoint agent.
- IIoT and OT connectivity: Provide fast, reliable, and secure remote access to industrial IoT and OT devices to facilitate maintenance and troubleshooting.
Enable Industry 4.0 With Zscaler
A zero trust approach is the most effective way to ensure robust
OT security. With an effective zero trust
architecture in place, any user—an employee, a contractor, or a
third party—can only access the applications and systems they need
to do their job, with no complex firewall stacks or VPNs required,
all while your apps and network stay invisible to the open
internet.
Hararei is a Cloud Generation solutions provider committed to
helping clients prepare for, adopt and deploy the latest generation
of applications, cybersecurity solutions and IT/Cloud infrastructure. Contact us today for a
confidential discussion regarding all your Cloud and Edge
requirements, including how to deploy Zero Trust in any environment.