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We’re back to discuss an all-too-familiar topic – ransomware.

Ironically enough, it seems the topics we describe in this manner become so familiar because we can’t figure out viable, long-term solutions. I think part of the challenge for industrial organizations dealing with ransomware is that we have to divide our energy and resources between prevention, detection and response. Any one of those is a challenge, but managing all three is daunting, and hackers know this. But so do the good guys - one of which is our guest for today’s episode. 

Listen as Jeff Krull, principal and leader of Baker Tilly’s cybersecurity practice discusses their Guide to Ransomware Prevention, as well as his thoughts on:

• The C-suite's growing appreciation of how cyberattacks are impacting profitability, which means cybersecurity has become more than just an IT issue.
• How more resources have made RaaS groups increasingly difficult to detect and stop.
• Paying vs. not paying the ransom.
• Why more cyber regulation is on the way.
• Manufacturing's lack of redundant assets is making it a more attractive target, but also fueling action around response and recovery plans.
• Why not everyone needs access to everything.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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A smarter, well-funded hacker community means embracing basic, yet daunting cyber challenges.

In manufacturing, regardless of your role, avoiding downtime is an obvious priority, and one of the motivating factors driving investments in cybersecurity.

In working to mitigate potential DDoS attacks or malware drops, manufacturers are tapping into more resources in heightening their awareness of vulnerabilities and the associated remedies, which can include updating access protocols, applying patches and replacing old equipment and technology. 

The problem is that the solutions can actually contribute to the problem you were originally trying to avoid – downtime. 

Our guest for today’s episode looks to offer some solutions. Watch/listen as Gabe Dimeglio, VP of Global Security Services at Rimini Street, a leading provider of data security and managed services, offers his take on:

• Patching strategies that minimize downtime.
• Getting employees engaged in cybersecurity strategies.
• Ensuring buy-in from throughout the enterprise when security measures need to be implemented.
• The evolving nature of hacker skills and the volume of attacks they are able to launch.
• How nation states are developing an institutionalized approach to developing new and better-trained hackers.
• Placing a priority on visibility, inventory and segmentation tools.
• Why he's an advocate of better regulatory efforts, not necessarily more of them.
• The under-utilized resources available to constructing response plans.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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Sophos recently reported that 65 percent of manufacturing and production organizations were hit by ransomware last year, which, unlike other sectors, is an increase. Overall, these attacks have increased by 41 percent for manufacturing since 2020. Additionally, the cybersecurity firm found that 44 percent of computers used in manufacturing have been impacted by a ransomware attack, and over half of these intrusions can be directly linked to malicious emails and compromised credentials. 

These findings help illustrate what we’ve known for years – hackers would rather log in than break in. And stopping these types of attacks requires starting with your front line defenses – the workforce. 

Our guest for today’s episode will look to offer some solutions for transitioning employees from a weak link to a key cybersecurity asset. Watch/listen as Shawn Waldman, CEO and Founder of Secure Cyber, a leading provider of secure network design solutions, discusses:

• Why he would give the industrial sector a low D when grading their ability to effectively communicate security processes and protocols.
• How to address those employees that continue to click on every link in their emails.
• Why cybersecurity should be treated like a trade.
• Understanding the difference between security tools and IT services.
• Implementing accountability without being overly punitive and rewarding employees for positive cybersecurity actions.
• The concerns he has about 5G and quantum decryption.
• Avoiding the AI "easy button".

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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I recently watched an interesting documentary called Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War on Netflix. Great watch – I’d highly recommend it. Essentially it positioned nearly every prominent geo-political event since World War II as fallout from the U.S. dropping the nuclear bomb on Japan to end World War II.

Similarly, we can look at a number of recent, major cybersecurity events that have their origins in attacks on critical infrastructure. Whether you want to go all the way back to Stuxnet, or more recent developments like Colonial Pipeline, hackers realized that the control systems utilized in these environments mirror those used by manufacturers like Boeing, Clorox, Johnson Controls and many others who have been recent victims of high-profile hacks.

Joining me to discuss these dynamics is Bill Moore, the founder and CEO of XONA Systems, a leading provider of secure access solutions. Watch/listen as he dives into:

• The challenges of updating and securing the legacy tech found throughout manufacturing and critical infrastructure.
• Getting past the 'set it and forget it' mindset of industrial cybersecurity.
• Strategies for implementing updates and patches without slowing operations or opening new doors to hackers.
• Ways to improve funding processes to ensure security needs are met and keep pace with an evolving threat landscape.
• How the more distributed dynamic of OT technology needs to be understood in developing new strategies and implementing new tools.
• Lessons learned from Colonial Pipeline.
• Ways to optimize regulatory efforts.
• Why every industrial organization needs a dedicated Director of OT Security.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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When I was a kid, we always looked forward to my dad’s work picnic. He was a tool and dye maker for a leading caster manufacturer that would rent out a local park, make a ton of food and put on various games and activities for the families. One of the highlights of this day was a softball game pitting the office versus the shop.

The good-natured shots that were fired across the dugouts of this summer classic reminds me of the challenges we see in industrial cybersecurity when it comes to bringing OT and IT teams together. While great strides have been made and numerous lessons learned on why these groups need to sync up, the reality is that we still have a long way to go. 

Over the last couple of months we’ve had some interesting takes on how to realize this need, so let’s revisit the following thoughts on the IT-OT working relationship from:

• Kris Lovejoy, Global Security and Resilience Leader at Kyndryl.
• John Cusimano, VP of OT Security at Armexa.
• Josh Williams, Strategic Account Manager at IriusRisk.
• Rod Locke, director of project management at Fortinet. 

Our guests have also weighed in on some of the more challenging dynamics of improving the IT-OT relationship. These have included:

• Brian Deken, Commercial Manager of Cybersecurity Services at Rockwell Automation.
• Riley Groves, an engineer from Auvesy-MDT.
• Theo Zafirakos, Cyber Risk and Information Security Expert at Fortra.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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An ethical cyber researcher breaks down the 'tsunami of exposed data' he continues to uncover.

When it comes to solving industrial cybersecurity's biggest challenges, I think we have to continue to ask questions that simultaneously tackle basic blocking and tackling concerns, as well as those that lead to bad news. Both prevent us from putting our heads in the sand in trying to ignore the shortcomings of our current strategies, and I’d argue that a great deal of positive outcomes couldn’t be realized without repeatedly asking questions and not being afraid of the potential findings. 

I also think our guest for this episode would agree. It’s our pleasure to welcome Jeremiah Fowler to Security Breach. He’s a leading cybersecurity researcher who has a wealth of knowledge on the industrial threat landscape, and recently uncovered a data vulnerability exposing 769 million personal records and 380,000 email addresses. Left unaddressed, this could have had highly damaging impacts on a global scale.

Watch/listen as Jeremiah shares his thoughts on:

• The need to educate the C-Suite on risk, the real-world costs of cybersecurity shortcomings, and how you can't measure the loss of trust.
• Why the human factor will always be the weakest link.
• How nearly every issue in cybersecurity comes back to visibility.
• The new challenges AI will continue to create.
• The increasing threat stemming from new credential harvesting schemes that clone login pages.
• The unintentional backdoor vulnerabilities created by legacy systems.
• Why he misses the Golden Age of Bug Bounties.
• The value of placing time limits on access to sensitive data.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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The landscape of industrial cybersecurity continues to change and evolve, and demands a vigilant monitoring of the next threat, vulnerability or potential soft spot in our defenses. That’s why we continue to produce Security Breach, and, by the way, continue to be so appreciative of the growth and support we’ve received from each of you.

That said, once in a while it’s good to take a look back at some of the ongoing lessons that we’re learning, especially when the input from our guests offers such an interesting range of responses.

So, let’s hear from a collection of previous guests as they reflect on the challenges and opportunities of more connection points, and how they responded to the question – are we over-connected?

• Joel Burleson-Davis, SVP of Cyber Engineering at Imprivata
• Josh Williams, Strategic Account Manager at IriusRisk
• Roman Arutyunov, Co-founder of Xage Security
• Kris Lovejoy, Global Security and Resilience Leader at Kyndryl
• Roland Cozzolino, CTO/CIO of InsightCyber
• Sharon Brizinov, Director of Research at Claroty’s research arm, Team82

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, nearly 20 percent of the organizations surveyed stated that they have experienced a breach stemming from a compromise in their supply chain, or a vulnerability related to it. The average cost of these breaches was estimated at just under $4.5 million. Their data also found that attacks emanating from the supply chain had a longer lifecycle than average.

The increased costs and complexities of addressing supply chain attacks is not a surprise when you consider that these intrusions not only impact the targeted company, but the logistics, distribution and retail elements that are dragged along on this difficult and painful ride. To help dive into the factors associated with supply chain attacks and other cybersecurity challenges, we welcome Theo Zafirakos, a Cyber Risk and Information Security Expert at Fortra to the show.

Watch/listen as we discuss:

• The three primary soft spots from which supply chain hacks emanate - software, devices and people.
• Why people are the most neglected of the three, and how they can be trained to identify attacks.
• The expanded role AI is playing in email compromises that help fuel supply chain attacks.
• Why IT and OT need to become more aware of each other's requirements and risks.
• The important role cybersecurity plays in ensuring operational reliability.
• The growing need for ransomware response plans, and how a national supply chain hack helped reinforce this need for all enterprises, regardless of size or sector.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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Due to the rise in attacks on manufacturing and critical infrastructure, and the devasting impacts these attacks have on daily lives around the world, the World Economic Form recently unveiled a report entitled Building a Culture of Cyber Resilience in Manufacturing. 

This initiative not only identified the sector’s primary challenges for developing a culture of cyber resilience, but also formulated three guiding principles for establishing an enduring strategy. They revolve around people, processes and culture.

I was fortunate enough to have one of the key contributors to the creation of these strategies sit down with me for some unique takes on the biggest challenges facing industrial cybersecurity. Watch/listen to my conversation with Kris Lovejoy, Global Security and Resilience Leader at Kyndryl, a leader in cyber resiliency strategies and services, as we discuss:

• How the capital investment process utilized throughout manufacturing could be leaving several key players behind, and the negative impacts this could have on the entire sector.
• Why security is not a tool, but a process.
• The ongoing issues associated with asset inventory and the first steps to take in correcting this issue.
• The Trojan Horse dynamic that smaller enterprises need to embrace in order to improve their security posture.
• How to know if you're the biggest risk or weakest link in a production environment or supply chain.
• Why regulatory efforts focused on cybersecurity could dramatically change the composition of the industrial sector.
• The difference between moving to the cloud and securely moving to cloud platforms.
• How security should be a driver of digital transformation strategies.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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When looking at industrial cybersecurity, more attention is being paid to how workers are logging in to access critical machinery, software or data. And according to Trustwave Threat Intelligence’s recent Manufacturing Threat Landscape report, 45 percent of attacks experienced by manufacturers stemmed from the bad guys accessing credentials.

Whether by utilizing brute-force tactics, submitting fake support tickets, or purchasing logins on the Dark Web, this seems to prove that hackers would much rather log in than break in. 

The report also cited the rise of Initial Access Brokers, or groups that focus specifically on obtaining and selling log-in data to other hackers. One example cited by Trustwave saw an IAB offering access to a leading steel manufacturer for just over $60,000. Unfortunately, this is not a unique circumstance, which is why we're talking to David Cottingham, president of rf IDEAS to weigh in on the ongoing challenges surrounding secure access throughout the OT environment.

Listen as we discuss:

• The importance of simplifying security processes to keep people engaged with them.
• Why no manufacturer is too small to be a target for credential-based attacks.
• Overcoming the bad behaviors that can result from operations personnel dealing with over 25 passwords.
• Avoiding punitive actions surrounding people-based security vulnerabilities.
• Why dual factor authentication strategies are key to ongoing security developments. 
• Best practices for mobile device use.
• How VPNs, firewalls and password wallets are simultaneously solutions and vulnerabilities.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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As we’ve discussed numerous times on Security Breach, terms like change, evolution and constant are more than just buzz terms – they’re a simple reality of working in the industrial OT space.

Whether we’re discussing threat actors from Stuxnet to Lockbit, tactics from social engineering to double-extortion ransomware, or vulnerability sources ranging from weak passwords to embedded secure-by design concerns, the ever-expanding attack surface is a constant reminder of change and the evolving nature of threats. 

In this episode we talk to Michael Haase, and draw on his extensive background and personal experiences as we discuss:

• The on-going balancing act between cost and security priorities.
• Why he considers the need for phishing training, "a massive failure on the part of the technical community."
• How AI is laying the groundwork for attacks that haven't happened yet.
• Why the growing complexity of hackers is actually a positive indicator.
• Automation is the inflection point for cybersecurity - for both sides.
• The shift from worrying about the ability to detect new attacks to focusing on the vulnerabilities being exploited.
• The distinction between learning what needs to be done and actually taking action.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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Over the last nearly 100 episodes of Security Breach we’ve discussed a wide range of strategies for protecting the manufacturing enterprise. But perhaps the most polarizing of these has been Zero Trust. While some unwaveringly champion the cause of this approach, others question the ways in which it is typically deployed.

Perhaps this dichotomy is best represented in Palo Alto and ABI Research’s The State of OT Security report. It found that 93 percent of those surveyed were familiar with Zero Trust, and 87 percent found the approach to be the right fit for protecting OT environments. However, half of those participating in the research also stated that there are practical blockers that prohibit implementation. 

In the end, like most things in the cybersecurity world, the answer lies in striking a balance between restricting access and implementing safeguards against time-consuming processes. In this episode I talk to Roman Arutyunov, Co-founder and SVP of product at Xage Security, about zero trust and a number of other topics, including:

• How cybersecurity needs to be viewed as both a productivity and protection tool.
• Overcoming the "it won't happen to me" mindset.
• The sector's over-reliance on VPNs and firewalls.
• Why manufacturing is missing regulatory guidance, and why that will change in the short-term.
• Improving responses to attacks, including ransomware..
• How AI can play a key role in shrinking the attack surface.
• Avoiding tool implementations that can be an "inverse pyramid of pain."

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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One of the more common obstacles that we discuss here on Security Breach is how increased connectivity has combined with new Industry 4.0 technologies to constantly expand the OT attack surface. In the midst of all this expansion, it’s easy to either overlook cybersecurity concerns, or put too much trust in the embedded security features of the new assets. 

So, while this usually brings up conversations about endpoint security, integration processes and secure-by-design protocols, let’s talk about something that our guest for today’s episode knows and understands all too well … time. 

Industry experts value downtime on the plant floor at about $250k/hour. So, just like predictive maintenance has become part of a facility’s new normal, predictive cybersecurity needs to receive the same priority.

Here to discuss this concept is Riley Groves, an engineer at Auvesy-MDT, a leading providing of ICS and automation solutions. Listen as we also discuss:

• The improving convergence of IT and OT on the plant floor.
• Getting ahead of vulnerabilities.
• The factors driving greater buy-in from the C-suite on cybersecurity investments.
• Why cybersecurity is the Special Teams of the industrial enterprise.
• How legacy systems are providing "function by disfunction" from a security perspective.
• The better ways to use AI.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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Those of you with a military or law enforcement connection are probably, and unfortunately, familiar with the term collateral damage. While this phrase has a legacy in these environments, it’s also become an unwelcome addition to the realm of cybersecurity.

Examples of this dynamic can be found in a number of hacktivist attacks that targeted infrastructure in a certain region, but either through unrealized connections or other bad actors simply following the blueprint, impacted facilities across the globe.  

Jason Oberg, the CTO of Cycuity, a leading provider of vulnerability mitigation solutions for semiconductor manufacturers, recently joined us to discuss some of the potential fallout from hacks, and how to prevent or respond to them in minimizing the collateral damage. We also talked about:

• How hackers are getting smarter in their hacks against chip makers.
• Why awareness of hacker tactics is not enough, and how manufacturers of all types can enhance their knowledge level pertaining to the growing sophistication of hackers and attacks.
• Addressing the baked-in compromises of hardware products, and the long-term impacts on all users and industries.
• Focusing on the inherent vulnerabilities of production processes, not just the associated technology.
• Balancing the goals of "getting product out the door" with embedding greater levels of security.
• How greater transparency can help with secure-by-design challenges.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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Viewing hacks as diseases to address evolving threats, vulnerabilities and tools like AI.

Like many of you, I recently dove into Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR).  And while there’s a plethora of data housed in the report that could fuel conversations on a multitude of topics, I chose the following two pieces of information:

• While credential harvesting and phishing attacks still led the way, the use of exploitable vulnerabilities to access networks tripled from last year, and were primarily leveraged by Ransomware and other Extortion-related threat actors.
• The reported median time to click on a malicious link after an email is opened is 21 seconds, and then only another 28 seconds for the person caught in the phishing scheme to enter their data. So, basically, a successful phishing attack can be executed in less than 60 seconds. 

These two items caught my eye because they seem like the low-hanging fruit when it comes to cybersecurity. In this episode, Roland Cozzolino, CTO/CIO of InsightCyber, a global provider of asset visibility, risk management and security services delivered via an AI-driven platform, offers his perspective on these types of exploits, as well as:

• Why state-sponsored hacker groups are his biggest concern.
• The problems caused by patient hackers and their live-off-the-land, or dwelling approach to network intrusions.
• How manufacturers can and need to improve their use of AI tools for enhancing visibility, asset management and threat detection.
• The advantages of designing OT security processes as though you're working in a disease-driven environment.
• Viewing cybersecurity as less about saving money and more about not losing control of an operation.
• Developing a strategy that goes beyond just "unplugging the machine".

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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It starts with a dedication to enhanced visibility.

One of the big conversations regarding OT security revolves around the use of tools. Some have too many, others not enough and everyone is searching for the funds to mange and obtain the right ones for a constantly evolving threat landscape.

The key to understanding which tools are right for you and your organization not only demands a comprehensive understanding of your OT environment’s assets, APIs and connections, but a working situational awareness. Here to discuss some of these topics, and more, is Sharon Brizinov, Director of Research at Claroty’s research arm, Team82.

Claroty is a leading provider of ICS and OT security, with partners that include Rockwell, Schneider Electric and Siemens. Watch/listen as we discuss:

• How creating patching windows can help address vulnerabilities more quickly.
• How tools can help manage the proliferation of connected devices.
• Why OT will benefit from IT's lessons-learned.
• Creating a defense against your daughter's iPad.
• Why manufacturers have to do a better job of knowing what they're defending against.
• The non-complicated, but terrifying strategies of hacktivists and state-sponsored attack groups. (Click here to view the report discussed in this episode breaking down a recent hack on Russian manufacturing.)
• The evolution of component-level connectivity, and what that will mean for industrial cybersecurity.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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Many attacks on manufacturers are just the first step in going after even bigger targets.

One of the inescapable truths about the industrial sector is that it is usually the ultimate proving ground for product performance. When we look at some of the technologies that have created seismic social shifts, tools like operational software, wireless connectivity and numerous monitoring devices were not ready for the demanding industrial environment right away.

When it comes to cybersecurity, that dynamic has done a 180. Hackers initially went after healthcare and financial institutions because they were seen as easy targets with deep pockets that would pay to make the problem go away as quickly as possible. 

Then 2020 came and put many industries on pause – except for manufacturing. Like moths to a flame, the hackers were drawn to OT networks and found not only a vulnerable target, but a lucrative one. We tackle these issues and many others in this episode with Sam Moyer, MxD’s Lead Cybersecurity Engineer. Some of the topics we discuss include:

• The lingering (live-off-the-land) nature of many state-sponsored or hacktivist group attacks.
• Finding the right ways to prioritize cybersecurity in manufacturing, and how the industry works "in it's own time."
• The disruptive or competitive push that manufacturing is missing.
• AI, and the potential traps to avoid in eliminating too much human knowledge.
• Why manufacturers are a target because of who they work with on a regular basis.
• Improvements in landscape visibility.
• The rise in frequency of manufactures paying ransomware demands.
• Navigating the regulatory landscape, and learning from past mistakes.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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In this episode, we dive into some of the most notorious attacks to hit manufacturing over the last six months.

In addition to speaking with cybersecurity experts from around the world for this podcast, I’ve also been able to do a fair amount of reporting on our websites regarding several high-profile industrial attacks. So, I felt like it could be interesting to present some of these articles via the Security Breach podcast in helping further the conversation around tactics and lessons learned.

So sit back and watch or listen as I dive into some of the most notorious attacks to hit the industrial community over the last six months.

• The first hack I’d like to cover is one that we’ve referenced several times here on the podcast – the  Cyber Av3ngers Unitronics PLC hack.
• The second attack I'm going to discuss involves a large player that those involved with industrial networking will immediately recognize – the Dark Angels penetration of Johnson Controls. This hack serves as a strong example of how a growing number of OT attacks can originate within IT systems or assets.
• We'll also take a look at another familiar company within the ICS community, and how they responded to a double-extortion ransomware attack from the Cactus RaaS group.
• Finally, we take a deep dive into another Dark Angels attack. This time the victim was Nexperia, a leading manufacturer of silicon-based processors based in The Netherlands, and a subsidiary of China-based Wingtech Technology.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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A look back at Security Breach guest's most accurate and timely industrial cybersecurity predictions.

As we near our 100th episode of Security Beach, I thought it would be a good time to take a look back at some of our guest’s predictions from the previous 12 months. 

If you want to check out the full episodes from any of these previous guests, you can find them in the show archives, or by clicking through to our website. So, join me as we take a look back at a collection of predictions from:

• Pete Lund at OPSWAT
• John Dwyer from IBM
• Siemens’ Kimberly Cornwell
• Moty Kanias from Nanolock
• NovaCoast’s Elise Manna-Browne
• Brian Haugli from SideChannel
• Huxley Barbee from runZero
• Forescout’s Daniel Trivellato
• Dragos’ Dawn Cappelli
• Impero’s Matthew Wolfe
• KnowBe4’s Erich Kron
• Tony Pietrocola from Agileblue

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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The new factors impacting a growing attack surface, and how to evolve your cyber risk strategies.

The origins of what we talk about here on Security Breach can go back to any number of transformational events, but the reality is that all of them contributed an individual component to the unique mosaic that is the legacy of industrial cybersecurity. What is most interesting is that the first hacks of industrial control systems occurred at water treatment facilities, oil and gas pipelines and energy plants.

These targets were chosen because they simultaneously provided great visibility, heightened social impact, and, most notably, easily exploitable vulnerabilities. In most cases, these attacks allowed the hackers to accomplish all of their early financial and self-promotional goals, along with longer-term benefits that we’re all dealing with now – how to successfully probe the ICS.

John Cusimano, VP of OT Security at Armexa is our guest for this episode. He's seen hackers apply these lessons learned about the industrial control system first-hand, and has some interesting thoughts on the current threat landscape, as well as solutions for keeping your systems secure. Watch/listen as we discuss:

• How he transitioned from a safety and automation engineer to a career in OT cybersecurity.
• The benefits of failing in a safe manner.
• The new dangers of remote monitoring.
• Ways to implement application safe listing.
• Always being prepared to answer the 'what if?' question.
• Micro-segmentation and DMZ strategies.
• Best practices for patching and avoiding alarm floods.
• Why his biggest concern lies in a large-scale, coordinate attack on the ICS.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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How a greater focus on new and legacy OT connections could alter the cybersecurity battlefield.

Everything old … is new again. While that might seem like a natural lead-in for discussing hacker tactics, that same mantra rings true when discussing OT technology. Mordor Intelligence recently reported that U.S. manufacturing spent over $307 billion on digital transformation technologies last year, and nearly every research and consulting outlet around the world is predicting that those numbers will rise in 2024. 

All this new software, connectivity, automation and equipment creates a familiar challenge when it comes to OT cybersecurity. This meshing of the old and new is something our guest for this episode is all too familiar with, and he’s here to break down everything associated with bringing legacy and next-gen together. 

Listen as Josh Williams, Strategic Account Manager at IriusRisk, offers his thoughts on secure-by-design, as well as:

• How the industrial sector gets a C- when it comes to securely integrating new technology into the OT landscape.
• Why the onus for secure-by-design concepts resides with the buyer.
• How monitoring became a critical vulnerability.
• The double-edged sword of connectivity.
• How state-sponsored hackers are a threat to more than just political targets.
• Why industrial OT is the front line in the cyber war.
• Why he doesn't want to be the "old man yelling at the clouds.".
• How supply chains have become manufacturing's biggest cyber concerns.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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The good, the bad and the ugly of mobile device security in the expanding OT attack landscape.

Included in the challenges associated with securing an ever-expanding OT attack surface is the role played by the increasing use of mobile devices – at both the enterprise and individual level. In fact, according to a recent report from Imprivata, only 46 percent of manufacturing organizations have the ability to maintain control over who has access to such devices and when, and 61 percent are using shared pin numbers to secure these devices. 

Additionally, an average of 16 percent of these devices are lost each year, costing organizations over $5M annually, not to mention the collateral damage from a security perspective.  This translates to an opportunity for hackers to unleash catastrophic damage by leveraging any vulnerabilities in areas like remote monitoring, and potentially new ways to worm into the networks associated with controlling your machines and systems.

Watch/listen as Joel Burleson-Davis, SVP of Cyber Engineering at Imprivata, returns to Security Breach to discuss OT mobile device security, as well as:

• The journey the industrial sector has made from devices that were never intended to be connected, to what Joel describes as OT "super connectivity".
• Why OT continues to be an easy target for hackers.
• The evolution of hacking groups.
• How we might be over-doing all the connectivity.
• The double-edged sword that is mobile use in the industrial sector.
• Avoiding 'mobile defeatism'.
• Combatting the growing number of dwelling or living-off-the-land attacks.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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It's not always about the ransom, data theft or denial of service.

Many cheered with the recent crackdowns  on groups like LockBit, and rightfully so. However, the harsh reality is that most of these victories are short-lived. For example, after law enforcement seized control of multiple LockBit websites and stolen data, the group was back to running extortion campaigns within a week.

And the same can be said for many other high-profile busts of groups like Hive and Volt Typhoon. These groups re-build or re-brand, as was the case with the Conti Group offshoot Black Basta. After Conti disbanded, Black Basta reformed from the ashes and tallied over $100 million in ransomware payments last year. 

My point is not to belittle the incredible work that global agencies are performing, but to illustrate that while the industrial sector continues to make tremendous gains - the war continues. And as we evolve and improve, so will the bad guys. 

And perhaps no one knows this better than our guest for this episode - Rod Locke. He’s the director of project management at Fortinet, a leading provider of OT cybersecurity solutions. Watch/listen as Rod shares his thoughts on:

• The growing influence of state-sponsored hacker groups.
• The rise of dwelling or live-off-the-land attacks and how some hackers are more focused on learning about their victims than harming them.
• Why OT can't always place the blame on IT, and the value in understanding both environments.
• How some regulatory efforts might have "swung too far."
• How to attract more "unique individuals" to cybersecurity.
• An anticipated rise in cloud infrastructure and the ways it will impact data security.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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How we're failing to properly support and train our most important cybersecurity asset.

According to Nozomi Networks February 2024 OT-IoT Security Report, manufacturing was exposed to more common vulnerabilities and exposures, or CVEs, than any other sector - realizing a 230 percent year-over-year increase in this area. Addressing even a fraction of these CVEs would be daunting, which is why understanding your assets is so basic, but so vital in establishing priorities and implementing approaches best suited to your security needs. 

To discuss these topics, and more, we welcome Jeff Nathan, Director of Detection Engineering at Netography, a leading provider of network security solutions, to the show. Watch/listen as he discusses:

• How social engineering tactics play a key role in manipulating emotional responses that trigger certain actions.
• The phishable weaknesses of MFA, and how its workflow might not be strengthening your security posture.
• Limiting your blast radius.
• The potential of encrypting endpoint data.
• Why cybersecurity needs to take a more scientific approach to defensive tactics.
• The industry's biggest miss on AI.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.

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Threat intelligence is important, but why manufacturers should focus on risk factors first.

When it comes to the industrial sector’s ongoing cybersecurity challenges, we all know that there's more to defend, but what is most concerning is that we’re not responding quickly enough to the expanding threat landscape. In case you needed proof, here are some of the recent stats from Dragos 2023 Year in Review Report. It found that:

• 80 percent of industrial sector vulnerabilities reside deep within the ICS network, making them difficult to see and harder to kick out.
• 53 percent of the advisories Dragos analyzed could cause both a loss of visibility and control.
• Ransomware attacks against industrial organizations increased by 50 percent last year, and Dragos tracked 28 percent more ransomware groups focused on the ICS/OT environment.
• Attacks were confirmed in 33 unique manufacturing sectors.
• 74 percent of all vulnerability advisories had no mitigation strategy.

I’m not going to promise solutions for all of these challenges, but we’ve definitely found a guy interested in trying. Scott Sarris is an Information Security, Compliance and Privacy Solutions Advisor at Aprio, a leading advisory and business consulting firm. Watch/listen as we discuss:

• Why OT could affectionately be known as "Old Tech".
• The political factors impacting IT/OT divisiveness in the industrial sector, but why Scott is optimistic about the progress being made in bringing the two segments together.
• Why cybersecurity planning and investments needs to start with assessing and prioritizing risk.
• How slowing down can help ramp up security efforts.
• Why dwelling or living-off-the-land attacks will escalate.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

To download our latest report on industrial cybersecurity, The Industrial Sector’s New Battlefield, click here.