As cyber threats continue to evolve and target critical infrastructure, organizations need robust guidelines and solutions to protect their industrial control systems. Enter NIST Special Publication 800-82 Revision 3 (NIST SP 800-82r3), a comprehensive guide that sets the standard for OT security.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of NIST SP 800-82r3 and how solutions from Dragos and NP-View can help organizations meet these crucial security requirements. 

Understanding NIST SP 800-82r3 

NIST SP 800-82r3, titled “Guide to Operational Technology (OT) Security,” is a pivotal document published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This guide provides a framework for securing industrial control systems (ICS) and other OT environments across various sectors. 

Who Does It Apply To? 

NIST SP 800-82r3 is relevant to a wide range of industries that rely on OT systems, including but not limited to: 

• Energy and utilities 
• Manufacturing 
• Transportation 
• Water and wastewater treatment 
• Chemical processing 
• Healthcare

Essentially, any organization that uses industrial control systems, SCADA systems, or other forms of operational technology can benefit from the guidance provided in this standard. 

Why Is It Relevant to OT Security? 

OT systems have traditionally been isolated from IT networks and the internet. However, with the advent of Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), these systems are increasingly connected to broader networks, exposing them to new cybersecurity risks. NIST SP 800-82r3 addresses these challenges by: 

• Providing a comprehensive overview of OT systems and their unique security considerations 
• Offering guidance on how to assess and mitigate risks in OT environments
• Outlining best practices for implementing security controls in industrial settings 
• Addressing the convergence of IT and OT systems and the associated security implications

NIST SP 800-82r3 Control Families and Domains 

NIST SP 800-82r3 outlines 19 control families, each addressing specific aspects of OT security. Some key control families include: 

• Access Control (AC) 
• Awareness and Training (AT) 
• Audit and Accountability (AU) 
• Security Assessment and Authorization (CA) 
• Configuration Management (CM) 
• Contingency Planning (CP) 
• Identification and Authentication (IA) 
• Incident Response (IR) 
• System and Communications Protection (SC) 
• System and Information Integrity (SI)

How Dragos and NP-View Help Meet NIST SP 800-82r3 Requirements 

Dragos and NP-View offer a range of solutions that can help organizations align with NIST SP 800-82r3 guidelines. Here’s how our ecosystem contributes to meeting the standard’s requirements: 

Dragos Platform 

• Access Control: Provides passive-first monitoring of OT networks, helping identify unauthorized access attempts.  
• Audit and Accountability: Offers extensive logging and auditing capabilities for OT networks, including asset inventory changes and real-time threat detections.  
• Configuration Management: Provides visibility into asset configurations and can detect unauthorized changes.

NP-View 

• Access Control: Validates remote access through path analysis and segmentation policy. 
• Audit and Accountability: Provides evidence for network configuration changes and potentially overly permissive access.  
• Configuration Management: Offers configuration analysis for network devices through system- and device-level segmentation analysis.

Dragos Threat Intelligence 

• Awareness and Training: Provides real-world cyber threat intelligence on OT attacks.  
• Planning: Provides threat intelligence to inform security planning.  
• System and Information Integrity: Provides timely information on new vulnerabilities and threats.

Dragos Services 

• Awareness and Training: Provides tabletop exercises and program reviews to enhance organizational awareness and preparedness.  
• Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring: Provides assessment services to evaluate the security posture of OT environments and test security controls.  
• Incident Response: Offers incident response support and planning services.

Get Our NIST SP 800-82r3 Mapping Guide 

NIST SP 800-82r3 provides a comprehensive framework for securing OT environments in an increasingly connected world. By leveraging solutions from Dragos and NP-View, organizations can more effectively implement the guidelines outlined in this standard, enhancing their OT security posture and protecting critical infrastructure from evolving cyber threats. 

As the threat landscape continues to evolve, staying aligned with standards like NIST SP 800-82r3 and utilizing advanced OT security solutions will be crucial for organizations across all industries relying on industrial control systems. By doing so, they can ensure the safety, reliability, and security of their operations in the face of growing cybersecurity challenges.