OT SCADA Penetration Testing: An Overview
OT and SCADA systems are the beating heart of critical infrastructure, controlling everything from the electric grid to water treatment facilities. But with increasing connectivity comes increasing risk. As these systems adopt standard IT technology, they become more exposed to cyber threats that could have devastating real-world effects. That's why penetration testing is so important.
Understanding OT/SCADA Systems
SCADA and OT systems are used to control and monitor industrial processes in a wide range of industries.
SCADA stands for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. It is a combination of hardware and software that allows you to automate industrial systems. They help monitor and control these systems and processes both locally and remotely by collecting and processing data from those systems.
According to Gartner, 'Operational technology (OT) is hardware and software that detects or causes a change, through the direct monitoring and/or control of industrial equipment, assets, processes and events.'
It's the hardware and software that detect and cause changes in the physical devices present in industrial control systems. It focuses on the industrial processes and operations and keeps them running 24/7.
Manufaturing, oil and gas, water and wastewater treatment, power grid management, are some of the many industries where OT and SCADA systems are used.
OT vs SCADA:
While OT and SCADA are closely related, they have different purposes. OT is an umbrella term used to describe the hardware and software that are used to manage industrial processes and operations. So SCADA is a part of OT.
SCADA is the part of OT that only focuses on monitoring and controlling processes in real-time. The main function of SCADA is to collect data from the Central Control and Command Centre.
Why Penetration Testing Matters for OT/SCADA
If you operate an OT or SCADA system, penetration testing should be a top priority. These systems control critical infrastructure like power grids, water treatment facilities, and transportation systems. As threats evolve and regulations tighten, testing is key to identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they're exploited. Critical infrastructure protection is paramount in safeguarding these vital systems. For a more in-depth exploration of this topic, read our comprehensive blog post on the importance of critical infrastructure protection.
Evolving Cyber Threats
OT and SCADA systems were traditionally air-gapped, but many now have some level of connectivity, opening them up to cyber threats. Hackers, hacktivists, and nation-state actors target these systems to cause disruption. In addition, being interconnected means OT/SCADA systems also have exploitable vulnerabilities. Denial of Service (DoS) and ransomware attacks are especially common and can cause serious damage to critical infrastructure. In fact, attackers often target these systems because disrupting them can have huge real-world impacts.
In the first half of 2023, CISA revealed 670 vulnerabilities that affect industrial control systems (ICS) and other operational technology. In addition to unpatched security flaws, these systems also face other risks ranging from insider threats, compromised devices, human error and complexities introduced by IoT devices. Penetration testing can help you uncover these flaws before attackers get to them.
Meeting Compliance Requirements
Regulations like NERC CIP require utilities to assess and mitigate risk. Penetration testing checks that your OT security controls are functioning properly and helps ensure compliance.