Cyber-Physical Convergence represents the integration and seamless interaction between digital (cyber) systems and physical entities, creating a dynamic convergence between physical and cyber security. This powerful integration merges digital data with physical processes, enabling real-time data analysis, decision-making, and automated responses that transform industries. Through interconnected systems, data and analytics drive physical processes and, conversely, physical actions impact digital insights, forming a continuous feedback loop between cyber and physical realms.
Cyber-Physical Convergence is foundational for innovations like the Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, smart cities, and autonomous systems, enabling efficient operations and improved safety. For example, in smart cities, this convergence supports everything from traffic management to energy usage, making urban environments more responsive and sustainable. Additionally, the integration of physical and cyber security strengthens resilience by addressing vulnerabilities in both realms, ensuring that any risks in the digital sphere do not compromise physical assets and vice versa.
Addressing Cyber-Physical Convergence Technology Challenges
In the modern landscape, managing cyber-physical systems demands a sophisticated approach to both digital and physical security. Consider the scenario where you’re a security specialist in a large bank. While most would classify this as an IT environment, the truth is you’re also responsible for an array of operational technology (OT) assets. This mixed environment resembles the infrastructure of a medium-sized manufacturing facility. Consequently, your expertise must encompass physical assets as well as digital, illustrating the essence of cyber-physical convergence.
Gartner has addressed this challenge by introducing the concept of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Security – an approach that unifies physical and cyber security convergence for a safer, more resilient infrastructure. Let’s explore the implications of this trend…
Identifying Cyber Assets in Cyber-Physical Convergence
The journey toward Cyber-Physical Convergence begins with a clear understanding of cyber assets. Any asset connected to your network, hosts, or impacting your physical environment must be part of your security and risk management. This process is essential because, as the saying goes, you can only manage the risks you know about.
Consider the following scenario: If an A/C chiller on your rooftop is connected to the network for remote maintenance, it can serve as an entry point for cyber threats. An attack on this system could disrupt data centers and critical infrastructure that rely on cooling. Similarly, remote employees using risky devices, like unsecure gaming mice, introduce risks that compromise not just the digital domain but potentially affect physical systems as well. This is where physical and cyber security convergence becomes critical, as it addresses risks stemming from both realms.
Understanding PLCs in Cyber-Physical Systems
Your background may be IT, but familiarity with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and remote terminal units (RTUs) is now crucial as OT infrastructure becomes a target for cyber-attacks. Even without an electrical engineering background, understanding high-risk assets and their impact on business continuity is essential.
In the context of Cyber-Physical Convergence, this holistic awareness serves as a crucial safeguard for the organization, bridging physical and cyber security convergence to enhance overall resilience and mitigate risks.
Managing Diverse Environments in Cyber-Physical Convergence
Navigating diverse environments in the landscape of Cyber-Physical Convergence is like a challenging game of Jumping Jack. How can you manage different environments effectively when you must leap between multiple solutions to find a single answer? To complicate matters further, each solution comes from a different vendor, as noted in three distinct market guides on supply chain attacks.
It’s like when you’re having a domestic night out (because your babysitter stood you up and called in sick) and want to watch a comedy, but there’s no unified list of all your options. Instead, you need to browse through several different platforms – Netflix, HBO, or Disney. Why? They are all providing the same service, being watched by the same TV, by a single person – why complicate things?
Cybersecurity shouldn’t be any different. It should be as simple as, “Hey Siri! Show me the top five risky assets in our main datacenter.” And the response should be a quick. “Here you go – you have one spoofing laptop detected in the power-station running your datacenter. Two wireless combo mice detected on your trading floor. And John, working from home, just had a bad USB connected to his endpoint.”
Cyber-Physical Convergence Systems Terminology
Changing the terminology to Cyber-Physical Convergence Systems instead of IT/OT/IoT is not just a linguistic convergence. It’s a change in state of mind, understanding that your security scope is much broader than you think. It might be overwhelming, but the good news is that as the future is moving towards convergence. So will cybersecurity tools.
What should you do in the meantime? Start by improving asset visibility and adopting the zero trust approach. Continuously verify every connected asset and assess its risk level to establish trust.
Stay engaged with every part of your infrastructure. Even if you don’t know the exact function of each asset (e.g., a specific PLC), ensure it is verified and trusted, regardless of whether an external utility company manages it.
As always, stay safe. Dolphins, who are considered one of the smartest mammals, sleep with one eye open. An approach worth considering when managing asset risks.
Cyber-Physical Convergence & Sepio’s Platform Key Features
Sepio’s Platform embodies Cyber-Physical Convergence by integrating and securing hardware assets across enterprise environments. Here’s how Sepio’s key features support this integration:
- Comprehensive Asset Visibility: Sepio offers complete visibility into all physical layer assets connected to your network, including USB and network interfaces. This ensures that every device is tracked and monitored. Such visibility is essential for effectively managing the integration of cyber and physical systems.
- Hardware-Based Risk Assessment: The platform performs detailed risk assessments for each hardware asset, identifying vulnerabilities and potential threats from malicious devices. This cybersecurity approach focuses on hardware, protecting the infrastructure from threats that originate at the physical level.
- Real-Time Risk Management: Sepio’s real-time risk management capabilities provide continuous monitoring and threat mitigation for all connected hardware assets. This proactive approach ensures that cyber-physical systems remain secure, detecting and addressing risks as they arise, and maintaining the integrity of the network.
- Detection and Mitigation of Malicious Assets: The solution detect and mitigate risks from malicious assets in enterprise environments. It covers a wide array of devices, ensuring comprehensive protection.
- Blocking and Control Options: The platform provides real-time blocking, such as disabling USB ports to stop risky devices from connecting. This feature is essential for protecting cyber-physical systems, preventing unauthorized or malicious devices from compromising the network.
- Policy Configuration: Sepio enables easy setup of granular policies customized to security needs or the use of default settings. This helps manage and control USB and network interface usage, allowing only approved devices to interact with the physical network.
Ready to Secure Your Cyber-Physical Assets?
Experience how Sepio’s platform empowers cyber-physical convergence and enhances physical and cyber security for your organization. Discover comprehensive asset visibility, real-time risk management, and seamless protection for both digital and physical systems. Schedule a Demo.
