Most rail cyber incidents have been IT cyberattacks. Existing government and industry cyber security guidelines have focused on these IT issues. The government and industry cyber security guidelines have often failed to address the control system cyber issues that have resulted in catastrophic control system cyber rail incidents. There have been more than fifty control […]
Forecasting where a hacker will go once inside an OT network
Work is ongoing in identifying cyber threats, and vulnerabilities, and locating hacker penetration in electric utility and other OT networks. However, existing technologies including IDS, IPS, SIEM, and SOAR can’t predict the future movement of a cyber intrusion that has successfully breached the OT network. Under US Air Force and DOE contracts, GCAS and its […]
Is A.I. the ultimate solution for protecting critical infrastructure from sophisticated cyber-attacks?
Kirk: “Machine over man, Spock, it was impressive, it might even be practical”; Spock: “But not desirable, computers make excellent and efficient servants, but I have no wish to serve under them,” -From Star Trek TOS episode “The Ultimate Computer”. One of the episodes from the 1960’s TV series Star Trek was called “The Ultimate […]
ISA MLM-38A “Identifying Control System Cyber Incidents” has been issued
[UPDATED 21-Oct-2023] ISA99 has approved the peer-reviewed Micro Learning Module (MLM) 38A – “Identifying Control System Cyber Incidents”. Those wishing to see the MLM should send their request to ISA99Chair@gmail.com. It is not possible to have an effective OT/ICS cyber security program if you can’t identify control system incidents as being cyber-related. Yet, OT cyber security is […]
Recent control system cyber cases can impact safe facility operation
IP network hacks and ransomware may not be able to be stopped. That includes cyberattacks against control system vendors who offer “cyber secure systems” and cyber security services. Control system vendors provide systems globally including to China, and some also have design and manufacturing facilities in China. The Johnson Controls and Bently-Nevada cases are not […]
CS2AI podcast on control system cyber security
I did a podcast for CS2AI on control system cyber security. The podcast was to educate people that control systems are composed of process sensors, actuators, drives, controllers, HMIs, networks, and network devices because OT cyber security practitioners have limited the discussion to HMIs, OT networks, and OT network devices. The podcast also discussed the […]
The European Union moves to regulate its digital economy by proposing cybersecurity requirements – is the CRA a bridge too far?
“In other words, there is no resilience in this particular material when it is at a temperature of 32 degrees. I believe that has some significance for our problem.” – Professor Richard Feynman commenting during the 1986 Challenger Commission hearings. The Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on horizontal […]
Microsoft Australian East Data Center control system cyber incident – unintentional or malicious?
Data center control system cyber incidents have shut down or damaged data centers operated by many different entities globally. August 30, 2023, a utility voltage sag tripped cooling units at the Microsoft Australia East Azure Data Center. When the voltage sag occurred, all five chillers in operation faulted and didn’t restart because the pumps did […]
Is the U.S. Government’s Cyber Informed Engineering Implementation Guide the long-awaited breakthrough in CIP?
USCG Icebreaker opening path through the ice* This past year has been disappointing for governments and institutions issuing documents on critical infrastructure protection. The European Union has issued a draft of the Cyber Resilience Act[1] and NIS2 Directive[2]. Across the Atlantic the U.S. has after a series of high-profile cyber incidents on its infrastructure (Colonial […]