How secure is your network equipment performing key functions like industrial processes? Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) is a vital task in cybersecurity in a world where industrial and business networks are increasingly interconnected. For example, Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are key in managing industrial processes in the electricity, water, and fuel industries.
Every business has something to lose, for example, employee data and this is why should you schedule a CIP compliance assessment as soon as possible:
Ensure Compliance with Regulatory Standards
There are compliance standards for different industries, more so the industries that handle sensitive data like customer identity. For example, banking, finance, insurance, healthcare, and education are some industries that have high compliance standards.
Compliance with these set regulatory standards can only start with doing a compliance assessment to know the status of your critical infrastructure. It helps you assess weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the infrastructure.
An internal CIP compliance assessment enables you to get ahead of the external audit, where it is required. You can patch up weaknesses and implement other policies that the external auditors evaluate.
Identify Obsolete Technology
Hackers and malicious actors are constantly prowling cyber networks, looking for obsolete technology. There are known vulnerabilities and weaknesses at the hardware level in old equipment, making them preferred entry points when attacking networks.
An internal network security assessment exposes obsolete hardware, after which you can decide to replace or patch. Some old equipment only needs a software upgrade, while you need to overhaul obsolete technology. It makes it harder for malicious actors to perform hardware exploits if your technology is up to date.
Identify Patch Prioritization
Which equipment patch should you prioritize? This question is important because equipment vulnerabilities are not equal. For example, a router on a server is more critical to the network than a data diode. An attack on the router leaves the data on your server vulnerable to a breach, while it would take a hacker longer to pivot from a data diode.
A CIP compliance assessment helps you to know which vulnerabilities and weaknesses are most critical. Then, you can formulate a remedial plan for emergency, short-term, medium, and long-term measures.
Identify Skills Gaps
Sometimes you have the latest hardware but lack people with the skills to handle it. Unfortunately, the skills gap in hardware security translates into poor security practices, leaving your network vulnerable to attacks. A CIP compliance assessment helps identify these skill gaps and remedial measures.
Are you looking to secure your network hardware against attacks? Talk to a cybersecurity consulting service about scheduling a CIP compliance assessment.
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