When Smart Tech Goes Rogue: The Rise of OT Cyber Attacks and How to Stop Them
Operational Technology cyber attacks are no joke. Imagine hackers playing virtual Jenga with power plants and water treatment facilities. With threats like ransomware and man-in-the-middle attacks, our infrastructure is at risk. Understanding OT cyber attacks is crucial to prevent catastrophic disruptions and ensure that our lights stay on and water remains drinkable.
Hot Take:
***Why hack a bank when you can take down an entire power grid instead? Operational Technology (OT) systems are like the secret sauce that keeps our modern world running smoothly. But just like how your grandma’s secret cookie recipe is vulnerable to your little brother’s sticky fingers, OT systems are increasingly at risk from cyber attackers. So, let’s not just worry about who’s stealing our cookies, but also who might be trying to plunge us into darkness.***
Key Points:
- Operational Technology (OT) is the backbone of critical infrastructure, managing physical processes in industries like energy and transportation.
- OT cyber attacks have evolved, becoming more sophisticated and posing severe risks to essential services.
- The types of OT attacks include ransomware, APTs, DoS, MitM, and even physical sabotage.
- Many OT systems lack robust security due to being outdated or isolated from IT networks.
- To protect OT systems, measures like network segmentation, regular updates, MFA, and employee training are essential.