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 Access control is the process of granting or denying specific requests to obtain and use information and related information processing services. It is one of the foundational requirements (FRs) of the ISA/IEC 62443 standards for securing industrial automation and control systems (IACSs). According to the ISA/IEC 62443-3-3 standard, access control includes the following system requirements (SRs):

SR 1.1: Identification and authentication control

SR 1.2: Use control

SR 1.3: System integrity

SR 1.4: Data confidentiality

SR 1.5: Restricted data flow

SR 1.6: Timely response to events

SR 1.7: Resource availability

Among these SRs, the ones that are most related to the critical variables of account management and password strength are SR 1.1 and SR 1.2. SR 1.1 requires that the IACS shall provide the capability to uniquely identify and authenticate all users, processes, and devices that attempt to establish a logical connection to the system. This means that the IACS should have a robust account management system that can create, modify, delete, and monitor user accounts and their privileges. It also means that the IACS should enforce strong password policies that can prevent unauthorized access or compromise of user credentials. Password strength refers to the level of difficulty for an attacker to guess or crack a password. It depends on factors such as length, complexity, randomness, and uniqueness of the password.

SR 1.2 requires that the IACS shall provide the capability to enforce the use of logical connections in accordance with the security policy of the organization. This means that the IACS should have a mechanism to control the access rights and permissions of users, processes, and devices based on their roles, responsibilities, and needs. It also means that the IACS should have a mechanism to audit and log the activities and events related to access control, such as successful or failed login attempts, password changes, privilege escalations, or unauthorized actions.

Therefore, account management and password strength are the critical variables related to access control, as they directly affect the identification, authentication, and authorization of users, processes, and devices in the IACS.

References:

ISA/IEC 62443-3-3:2013, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 3-3: System security requirements and security levels1

ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist Certificate Program2

ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Library3

Using the ISA/IEC 62443 Standards to Secure Your Control Systems4

 A cyber attack is an attempt to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of a computer system or network by exploiting its vulnerabilities. A cyber attack can be launched from various entry points, which are the pathways that allow an attacker to access a target system or network. According to the ISA/IEC 62443-3-2 standard, which defines a method for conducting a security risk assessment for industrial automation and control systems (IACS), some of the possible entry points for a cyber attack are:

LAN: A local area network (LAN) is a network that connects devices within a limited geographic area, such as a building or a campus. A LAN can be an entry point for a cyber attack if an attacker gains physical or logical access to the network devices, such as switches, routers, firewalls, or servers. An attacker can use various techniques to access a LAN, such as network scanning, spoofing, sniffing, or hijacking. An attacker can also exploit vulnerabilities in the network protocols, services, or applications that run on the LAN. A cyber attack on a LAN can affect the communication and operation of the devices and systems connected to the network, such as IACS.

Portable media: Portable media are removable storage devices that can be used to transfer data between different systems or devices, such as USB flash drives, CDs, DVDs, or external hard drives. Portable media can be an entry point for a cyber attack if an attacker uses them to introduce malicious code or data into a target system or device. An attacker can use various techniques to infect portable media, such as autorun, social engineering, or physical tampering. An attacker can also exploit vulnerabilities in the operating systems, drivers, or applications that interact with portable media. A cyber attack using portable media can affect the functionality and security of the systems or devices that use them, such as IACS.

Wireless: Wireless is a technology that enables communication and data transmission without physical wires or cables, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular networks. Wireless can be an entry point for a cyber attack if an attacker intercepts, modifies, or disrupts the wireless signals or data. An attacker can use various techniques to access wireless networks or devices, such as cracking, jamming, or eavesdropping. An attacker can also exploit vulnerabilities in the wireless protocols, standards, or encryption methods. A cyber attack on wireless can affect the availability and reliability of the wireless communication and data transmission, such as IACS.

Therefore, LAN, portable media, and wireless are three possible entry points that could be used for launching a cyber attack. References:

Cybersecurity Risk Assessment According to ISA/IEC 62443-3-21

ISA/IEC 62443 Series of Standards2

Patches are software updates that fix bugs, vulnerabilities, or improve performance or functionality. Patches are important for maintaining the security and reliability of an IACS environment, but they also pose some challenges and risks. Applying patches in an IACS environment is not as simple as in an IT environment, because patches may affect the availability, integrity, or safety of the IACS. Therefore, patches should not be applied blindly or automatically, but based on the organization’s risk assessment. The risk assessment should consider the following factors: 1

The severity and likelihood of the vulnerability that the patch addresses

The impact of the patch on the IACS functionality and performance

The compatibility of the patch with the IACS components and configuration

The availability of a backup or recovery plan in case the patch fails or causes problems

The testing and validation of the patch before applying it to the production system

The communication and coordination with the stakeholders involved in the patching process

The documentation and auditing of the patching activities and results References: ISA TR62443-2-3 - Security for industrial automation and control systems, Part 2-3: Patch management in the IACS environment

According to the ISA/IEC 62443-2-1 standard, security policy, organization, and awareness is one of the four foundational requirements for an IACS security management system. It defines the “policies, procedures, and organizational structure necessary to support the security program” 1. One of the elements of this requirement is staff training and security awareness, which involves “providing appropriate security education and training to all personnel who have access to or are responsible for IACS components” 1. This element aims to ensure that the staff are aware of the security risks, policies, and procedures, and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities in a secure manner. Staff training and security awareness can include topics such as security principles, threats and vulnerabilities, incident response, password management, physical security, and social engineering 2. References:

ISA/IEC 62443 Series of Standards - ISA

Security of Industrial Automation and Control Systems - ISAGCA

Phishing is a type of cyberattack that relies on a human weakness to succeed. Phishing is the practice of sending fraudulent emails or other messages that appear to come from a legitimate source, such as a bank, a government agency, or a trusted person, in order to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details, or into clicking on malicious links or attachments that may install malware or ransomware on their devices. Phishing is a common and effective way of compromising the security of industrial automation and control systems (IACS), as it can bypass technical security measures by exploiting the human factor. Phishing can also be used to gain access to the IACS network, to conduct reconnaissance, to launch further attacks, or to cause damage or disruption to the IACS operations. The ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards recognize phishing as a potential threat vector for IACS and provide guidance and best practices on how to prevent, detect, and respond to phishing attacks. Some of the recommended countermeasures include:

Educating and training the IACS staff on how to recognize and avoid phishing emails and messages, and how to report any suspicious or malicious activity.

Implementing and enforcing policies and procedures for email and message security, such as using strong passwords, verifying the sender’s identity, and not opening or clicking on unknown or unsolicited links or attachments.

Applying technical security controls, such as antivirus software, firewalls, spam filters, encryption, and authentication, to protect the IACS devices and network from phishing attacks.

Monitoring and auditing the IACS network and devices for any signs of phishing attacks, such as anomalous or unauthorized traffic, connections, or activities, and taking appropriate actions to contain and mitigate the impact of any incidents. References:

ISA/IEC 62443-1-1:2009, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 1-1: Terminology, concepts and models1

ISA/IEC 62443-2-1:2009, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 2-1: Establishing an industrial automation and control systems security program2

ISA/IEC 62443-2-4:2015, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 2-4: Security program requirements for IACS service providers3

ISA/IEC 62443-3-3:2013, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 3-3: System security requirements and security levels4

ISA/IEC 62443-4-2:2019, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 4-2: Technical security requirements for IACS components5

 IPSec is a commonly used protocol for managing secure data transmission over a VPN. IPSec stands for Internet Protocol Security and it is a set of standards that define how to encrypt and authenticate data packets that travel between two or more devices over an IP network. IPSec can operate in two modes: transport mode and tunnel mode. In transport mode, IPSec only encrypts the payload of the IP packet, leaving the header intact. In tunnel mode, IPSec encrypts the entire IP packet and encapsulates it in a new IP header. Tunnel mode is more secure and more suitable for VPNs, as it can protect the original source and destination addresses of the IP packet from eavesdropping or spoofing. IPSec uses two main protocols to provide security services: Authentication Header (AH) and Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP). AH provides data integrity and source authentication, but not confidentiality. ESP provides data integrity, source authentication, and confidentiality. IPSec also uses two protocols to establish and manage security associations (SAs), which are the parameters and keys used for encryption and authentication: Internet Key Exchange (IKE) and Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP). IKE is a protocol that negotiates and exchanges cryptographic keys between two devices. ISAKMP is a protocol that defines the format and structure of the messages used for key exchange and SA management.

References:

ISA/IEC 62443-3-3:2018, Section 4.2.3.7.1, VPN1

ISA/IEC 62443-4-2:2019, Section 4.2.3.7.1, VPN

ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist Study Guide, Section 5.3.2, VPN

ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist Exam Specification, Section 5.3.2, VPN

 Safety management staff are stakeholders of the CSMS, which stands for Cybersecurity Management System. The CSMS is a framework for managing the cybersecurity of industrial automation and control systems (IACS) based on the ISA/IEC 62443-2-1 standard1. The CSMS defines the objectives, policies, metrics, and governance for the overall ICS security program2. The CSMS also includes the processes for risk assessment, security design, implementation, monitoring, and improvement3. Safety management staff are involved in the CSMS development and implementation, as they are responsible for ensuring the safety of the IACS and the people, environment, and assets that depend on it. Safety management staff need to coordinate with the security management staff to align the safety and security requirements, identify and mitigate the safety risks arising from cyber threats, and monitor and respond to safety incidents caused by cyberattacks. References:

1: ISA/IEC 62443-2-1: Establishing an Industrial Automation and Control Systems Security Program, ISA, 2010.

2: A Practical Approach to Adopting the IEC 62443 Standards - ISAGCA

3: ISA ISA-IEC-62443 ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist Online Training - Exam4Training

[4]: Using the ISA/IEC 62443 Standards to Secure Your Control System, ISA, 2018.

 According to the ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist resources, patches are software updates that fix bugs, vulnerabilities, or improve performance of a system. Patches are classified into three categories based on their urgency and impact: low, medium, and high. Low priority patches are those that have minimal or no impact on the system functionality or security, and can be applied at the next scheduled maintenance. Medium priority patches are those that have moderate impact on the system functionality or security, and should be applied within a reasonable time frame, such as three months. High priority patches are those that have significant or critical impact on the system functionality or security, and should be applied as soon as possible, preferably at the first unscheduled outage. Applying patches in a timely manner is a best practice for maintaining the security and reliability of an industrial automation and control system (IACS). References:

ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist Study Guide, Section 4.3.2, Patch Management

ISA/IEC 62443-2-1:2009, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 2-1: Establishing an industrial automation and control systems security program, Clause 5.3.2.2, Patch management

ISA/IEC 62443-3-3:2013, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 3-3: System security requirements and security levels, Clause 4.3.3.6.2, Patch management

According to the ISA/IEC 62443-3-2 standard, a security zone is a grouping of systems and components based on their functional, logical, and physical relationship that share common security requirements. The primary objective of defining a security zone is to apply a consistent level of protection to the assets within the zone, based on their criticality and risk assessment. A security zone may contain assets from different vendors, different levels in the Purdue model, or different physical locations, as long as they have the same security requirements. A security zone may also be subdivided into subzones, if there are different security requirements within the zone. A conduit is a logical or physical grouping of communication channels connecting two or more zones that share common security requirements.

References:

ISA/IEC 62443-3-2:2020, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 3-2: Security risk assessment for system design, Clause 4.3.21

ISA/IEC 62443-1-1:2009, Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 1-1: Terminology, concepts and models, Clause 3.2.42

 According to the ISA/IEC 62443-2-4 standard, a training and security awareness program should include all personnel who have access to the industrial automation and control system (IACS) or who are involved in its operation, maintenance, or management. This includes vendors and suppliers, employees, temporary staff, contractors, and visitors. The purpose of the program is to ensure that all personnel are aware of the security risks and policies related to the IACS, and that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their roles in a secure manner. The program should also cover the roles and responsibilities of different personnel, the reportingprocedures for security incidents, and the best practices for security hygiene. References:

ISA/IEC 62443-2-4:2015 - Security for industrial automation and control systems - Part 2-4: Security program requirements for IACS service providers1

ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist Training Course2