How to deal with common security challenges for companies within the energy sector
In this article, we explain how to handle security challenges in the energy sector and how to protect your business from cyberattacks.
Questions we cover in this article:
Why is secure IT/OT integration important?
Separating IT and OT into separate segments helps you to avoid threats or disruption in IT affecting OT. To also avoid risks as a consequence of mistakes in configuration or malfunction, physical segmentation (zoning) should be used. This means that separate hardware is used for IT and OT.
The most secure way to connect an integrity/availability sensitive data network to other systems is to use data diodes. All data flows that can be managed with data diodes involve a simplified security analysis, simply because a data diode is so secure and easy to analyse. Or, more correctly, because it has such high assurance.
Examples of how data diodes make OT-to-IT integration more secure
Database mirroring: One method for exporting data from the OT zone is to mirror the contents of a database from the OT zone. By creating a copy of the data on the IT side, you can allow read access to all IT systems that need to access the database contents.
XML export: Another method is to create an XML file in the OT zone, containing all the data needed outside OT. This file is then sent regularly by file transfer to a recipient in the IT zone.
Want to learn more about secure IT/OT integration?
What is secure remote access?
One of the most common challenges for facility owners and manufacturers today is when equipment lacks remote access due to it being offline, requiring special connectivity (USB, serial) or has a lack of session control. It can also be of legacy equipment (Windows XP and similar) or have non-compliant workarounds invisible to IT & cyber.
With Advenica’s Remote Access Device you can add an instant layer of secure control around your site. It offers ad-hoc remote access, where and when needed. It also offers support of 3rd party needs such as tunnelling, IP/USB/Serial or even KVM access, in addition to simple
user administration.
Benefits with the Remote Access Device:
Portable: Small form factor and built-in battery allow users to easily move remote access to a single endpoint or a network of endpoints.
Secure: Built on Zero Trust principles, ensuring Least Privileges, Access Control, and Audit Log.
Versatile: A wide variety of I/O options enabling connections to an extensive range of devices.
Clientless: Plug-and-play solution requiring no software installation on the endpoint, network, or technician’s computer.
Out-of-Band: Built-in LTE connection ensures remote access is isolated from the network.
Offline: Whether utilizing LTE, WiFi, or LAN, the internet connection is not shared with the endpoint and will remain offline during remote access.
Learn more about our Secure Remote Access.
What is secure centralised logging?
Most IT systems generate logs that enable troubleshooting and traceability. To benefit the most from such logs, it is important to combine logs from as many systems as possible in one chronological list. By monitoring logins, failed login attempts, transactions, USB usage etc, effective preventive measures can be mapped out and damage control can be taken without delay. However, the character of the data also makes log servers hackers’ favoured target. Destroyed or manipulated data logging systems has no value, hence it needs to be protected at the highest possible level. With new regulation like NIS2 the demand to report incidents quick and correct it is crucial that logs are available and trustable.
To ensure integrity and security, high-assurance solutions are required. Data diodes create a high assurance isolation in the backward direction, thereby blocking everything from the outside.
Need help finding the right solution for your business?
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How to secure reporting to authority cloud services
Many organisations today have to report data continuously to an authority. This as the authority needs statistics from the different organisations reporting to them in order to put the right demands on the reporting organisations, charge them in the correct way or to be able to have a total picture of the subject in question. In most cases this reporting is done to a cloud service that the authority has. But this cloud service is a potential attack vector for a cyberattack, this could potentially affect all the organisations reporting to this authority.
To avoid this, a data diode can be placed between the cloud service and the reporting organisation. Then the data can only go in one direction, from the reporting organisation to the cloud service.
How do I protect my business against cyberattacks?
To begin with, every company or organisation must identify the information or systems that are most critical and thus worth protecting. Since most systems today are interconnected, it is difficult to get an overview of how many paths lead to the most valuable information. By conducting a risk and vulnerability analysis, protectworhty information and systems can be classified and loopholes identified.
However, it is not practical or financially justified to protect all information in the same way. To secure the most valuable information, strict network segmentation is the best solution to use. This means that you create zones with different security levels.
After creating zones, you should choose security solutions for operation, availability, and adaptability based on the attacker’s perspective and worst-case scenario. To be able to protect your most critical information, be sure to use professional solutions for high security and also solutions that are future-proof. Some such solutions are data diodes, security gateways and vpn-crypto solutions. 
Tips to protect yourself and your business against cyber attacks
Segment your networks
Make demands on your subcontractors
Update securely
Does Advenica have the solutions we need?
Advenica has extensive experience of solutions where networks are physically isolated at the same time as information is connected securely. Our expertise and solutions secure your ICS information management – and enable accelerated digitalisation without jeopardising accessibility and integrity of ICS systems.
In our customer cases Wiener Netze protects its infrastructure using solutions from Advenica you can read how a large energy company secure their operations with our help.
Do you need guidance regarding digital responsibly or on what solution that meets your business needs? Contact us. We are at your service.
FAQ
How do we choose the right solution for us?
If you feel insecure on what solution that fits your business needs, please feel free to contact us at Advenica.
We have extensive experience of security challenges for companies within the energy sector and can offer advice, expertise, products and services that solve your challenges. We are at your service.
What is the main purpose of cybersecurity?
The main purpose of cybersecurity is to protect systems, networks, and data from digital threats such as unauthorized access, cyberattacks, and data breaches. Cybersecurity helps organisations to ensure that their information remains confidential, accurate and available when needed.
Why do we need to protect our information?
Availability: So that the Information is accessible whenever it is needed.
Integrity: So that we can trust that the information is correct and has not been tampered with, altered, or destroyed by unauthorized parties.
Confidentiality: So that authorised persons may take part in it.
How does a data diode work?
A data diode allows data to move in only one direction using optical fiber with a sender and receiver. This prevents two-way communication, stopping cyberattacks, data leakage, and manipulation. Because it is hardware-based, it cannot be compromised by malicious software, helping protect the network’s confidentiality and integrity.
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Rickard Nilsson
COO
