Assessing OT Cybersecurity Maturity with the SANS ICS 5 Critical Controls

As the cybersecurity threat landscape continues to expand, organizations must adopt robust frameworks to safeguard their industrial control systems (ICS). Enter the SANS 5 Critical Controls for ICS Cybersecurity—a comprehensive, real-world framework designed to enhance the cybersecurity posture of industrial environments. In this blog, we’ll explore how these controls were developed, why they are essential, how to assess your maturity within each control, and how the Dragos Platform can help you implement the controls effectively.

How the SANS ICS 5 Critical Controls Were Developed

The SANS ICS 5 Critical Controls were meticulously crafted by cybersecurity experts Robert M. Lee (SANS Instructor and Dragos CEO and Co-Founder) and Tim Conway (SANS Instructor), drawing on extensive analysis of recent compromises and cyber attacks in industrial companies worldwide. These controls are outcome-focused and intelligence-driven, chosen based on real-world incidents to ensure they address the most pressing threats. The goal is to provide a practical, adaptable framework that organizations can tailor to their specific environments and risks.

A Real-World Framework for Industrial Cybersecurity Programs

The 5 Critical Controls are not just theoretical constructs; they are grounded in the realities of industrial cybersecurity. They focus on creating an efficient and effective ICS/OT security program by addressing key areas such as risk management, threat detection, and incident response. These controls are designed to be flexible, allowing organizations to prioritize their efforts based on their unique risk tolerance and return on investment. This pragmatic approach ensures that even smaller, less mature organizations can build robust cybersecurity programs, while larger, more mature organizations can measure and improve their resiliency.

Your OT Cybersecurity Journey

The OT cybersecurity journey is a structured pathway that guides organizations through the stages of implementing, operationalizing, and optimizing their cybersecurity programs.

• Implementation is the foundational phase where organizations develop the necessary skills and resources to execute core use cases, improve designs, and integrate OT security into their existing IT frameworks. This stage involves setting up the basic infrastructure and controls needed to protect the industrial environment.
• Operationalization takes the program a step further by ensuring that these controls are fully functional and can efficiently handle key scenarios. This phase focuses on executing advanced use cases, maturing security designs, and expanding the program to medium-impact sites.
• Finally, the Optimization phase is about fine-tuning and enhancing cybersecurity measures to achieve peak efficiency and effectiveness. This involves continuous monitoring, risk management, and iterative improvements to ensure the organization remains resilient against evolving threats.

By following this journey, organizations can systematically build a robust OT cybersecurity program that adapts to their unique needs and risk profiles.

How to Assess Your Cybersecurity Maturity Across the Controls

Assessing your cybersecurity maturity across the 5 Critical Controls is a crucial step in enhancing your cybersecurity posture. Start by identifying the scenarios you want to be prepared to defend against. Conduct a thorough risk assessment to understand your current capabilities and identify gaps. Use the benchmarking guide and complementary workbook provided by Dragos to measure your progress and fine-tune your investments. This structured approach will help you establish a risk management framework that evolves with your program, ensuring continuous improvement.

How the Dragos Platform Helps You Implement Each Control

The Dragos Platform is an OT-native cybersecurity monitoring and visibility solution that aligns seamlessly with the SANS ICS 5 Critical Controls. Here’s how it helps you implement each control:

• ICS Incident Response Plan: The Platform provides forensic data and timelines for investigations, along with response playbooks to ensure a swift and effective response to incidents.
• Defensible Architecture: Dragos offers asset discovery, protocol analysis, and activity logging to validate security controls and ensure a robust architecture.
• ICS Network Visibility & Monitoring: With features like threat detection and response playbooks, the Platform enables comprehensive monitoring of your network, ensuring you can detect and contextualize threats in real-time.
• Secure Remote Access: Dragos helps monitor third-party remote access sessions, validate secure remote access controls, and guide remote connections through choke points for increased monitoring.
• Risk-Based Vulnerability Management: The Platform matches vulnerabilities to your asset inventory, prioritizes mitigation efforts, and tracks the status to completion, ensuring a proactive approach to vulnerability management.

Bring your teams together, assess your maturity, and leverage the Dragos Platform to implement these controls effectively.

Download the Benchmarking Guide

Taking action today is the first step to safeguarding your industrial environment tomorrow: download the benchmarking guide to map the next steps in your journey. Work with your operations team and OT security experts to put these controls into practice, ensuring they are fully operational and can efficiently handle key scenarios.