Cybersecurity for industrial systems isn’t a new problem. But too often, it’s still treated like one.
Most organizations have well-developed strategies for securing digital assets. But when it comes to Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) – the power grids, water systems, manufacturing lines, and national infrastructure that depend on both digital and physical processes- cybersecurity strategies often fall short.
The reason is simple: many defenses still focus almost entirely on the network layer. The result is that this leaves the physical processes themselves vulnerable to attack.
The consequences are real and measurable. These aren’t just data breaches. A successful attack on CPS can result in physical shutdowns, equipment failure, and even risks to human safety.
To address this, CPS protection requires a different mindset. One that acknowledges the complexity of these environments and the layers that need to work together to defend them. That includes more than just firewalls and access controls.
A true CPS security strategy must be multi-layered.
That means combining:
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) to monitor for threats in real time
Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) to block those threats
Segmentation by zones and levels to reduce risk exposure
Process-level anomaly detection that identifies manipulation in physical behavior
A unified approach that brings IT and OT teams together
This is the foundation of a multi-layered defense strategy. Take a look and consider: are your defenses built for the network, or for the real-world processes those networks control?
