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TechKnowSurge Catalog Interactives Which OT Weakness Does It Fix?
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Which OT Weakness Does It Fix?

A firewall, a new login, an encrypted tunnel: which OT weakness does each change reduce?

⚑ Complete this interactive to capture a CTF flag worth 5 points.

About this interactive

Operational technology (OT) is the technology used to create and deliver a company's products and services, usually the systems that run industrial operations: PLCs, SCADA, DCS, RTUs, CNC machines, building management and lighting controls. It is expensive to roll out, so it often stays in place for decades. The lesson lists its common weaknesses; four of them are here. Legacy, unpatched systems: equipment too costly to replace runs long past the end of its patches. Lack of segmentation: many OT networks were built before segmentation was common, so a compromise in IT can reach OT, and the other way round. Weak authentication and access control: devices left open, with shared or default logins. Insecure communication protocols: older protocols that send commands and data unencrypted and unauthenticated. To sort a card, ask what was wrong before the change was made.

What you'll learn

Aligned to

CompTIA Security+
3.1 Compare and contrast security implications of different architecture models.
2.3 Explain various types of vulnerabilities.
2.5 Explain the purpose of mitigation techniques used to secure the enterprise.
4.1 Given a scenario, apply common security techniques to computing resources.

Key terms

Operational Technology
OT
Operational Technology refers to hardware and software systems that monitor and control physical devices, processes, and infrastructure in industrial and critical environments, requiring specialized security approaches distinct from traditional IT.
Legacy System
An outdated computing system, hardware, or software that remains in use despite lacking current vendor support or security patches, often introducing security vulnerabilities.
Network Segmentation
The practice of dividing a network into smaller segments to improve performance and limit the spread of security threats.
Industrial Control System
ICS
Industrial Control System is a broad category of control systems used in industrial production and critical infrastructure, including SCADA systems and PLCs; ICS security focuses on protecting physical processes from cyber threats with minimal downtime tolerance.
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
SCADA
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition is a system architecture used in critical infrastructure to collect sensor data and issue real-time control commands; SCADA security failures can result in physical damage to industrial equipment and facilities.

Topics

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