It is no secret that cyber security is a priority for all sectors, as threats evolve in terms of frequency, scale, and sophistication. However, for Operators of Essential Services (OESs), this is just part of a larger, more complex picture. With the ongoing convergence of IT and OT and the resulting drive for an integrated approach to physical and cyber security, combined with increasingly complex compliance obligations, a more considered approach to the design and implementation of security ecosystems is needed.
A 'secure by design' approach.
It's no accident that we at Vysiion describe our delivery process, service and solution portfolio in this way - not just in relation to the cyber components of the delivery, but the systems, controls, and governance used in our delivery of mission-critical infrastructure into the most challenging environments, for the most stringently regulated sectors.
The Vysiion view, robust security is not a retrofit - it needs to be inherent in both approach and design, taking process, controls, hardware, and software into consideration, and ensuring stakeholders are aware of their roles and responsibilities.
So, taking a step back and considering how this works in practice, and from the earliest stages of a project...
An established project management methodology will include the creation of a risks and methods document, ensure the right security and risk management specialists have been engaged, and that processes are in place that follow best practice throughout each phase of delivery. A 'secure by design' approach takes this further by considering the full range of IT and OT security systems and processes that will overlay every element of the project - validated against the relevant frameworks and regulations, with the latest threat intelligence used to pinpoint the areas of greatest risk. Crucially, this includes all elements of the proposed supply chain, as these represent an increasingly common target for cyberattacks as a means of gaining backdoor access to critical data and infrastructure.
A rigorous, standards-based approach is essential, as OESs' regulatory obligations are rapidly evolving in response to the complexity of IT / OT systems, with regulations like NIS (2018) reflecting the larger attack surface created by this new breed of infrastructure.
As such, the following standards should be considered as the baseline for establishing secure, integrated IT and OT systems:
A rigorous, standards-based approach is essential, as OESs' regulatory obligations are rapidly evolving in response to the complexity of IT / OT systems, with regulations like NIS (2018) reflecting the larger attack surface created by this new breed of infrastructure.
As such, the following standards should be considered as the baseline for establishing secure, integrated IT and OT systems:
- ISO 27001. The globally recognised standard for information security.
- NIS (2018). Measures to optimise the resilience (both physical and cyber) of network and information systems.
- Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF). A systematic approach to measuring multiple aspects of cyber risk, maintained by the NCSC.
- IEC-62443. A framework for mitigating security vulnerabilities in the design and operation of critical infrastructure.
- Cyber Assurance of Physical Security Systems (CAPSS). Assurance for physical security systems.
Do not make assumptions here. The regulatory environment is increasingly rigorous, with standards and frameworks extending to organisations and market verticals previously exempt. For example, some manufacturers are now regarded as part of the UK's CNI sector and must be able to demonstrate appropriate and proportionate consideration has been given to the same regulatory and compliance goals.
Once the applicable standards have been identified, their robust principles can be adopted throughout the design and implementation phases and beyond, utilising proven methodologies like the Purdue Model to ensure dataflows and physical assets are identified and documented, and proactive monitoring of the potential attack surface is maintained (and automated, where appropriate). This should be subject to regular review using collated security data and the most up-to-date threat intelligence, and supported by a responsive maintenance capability, 24 / 7 support and monitoring, and regular auditing.
Once the applicable standards have been identified, their robust principles can be adopted throughout the design and implementation phases and beyond, utilising proven methodologies like the Purdue Model to ensure dataflows and physical assets are identified and documented, and proactive monitoring of the potential attack surface is maintained (and automated, where appropriate). This should be subject to regular review using collated security data and the most up-to-date threat intelligence, and supported by a responsive maintenance capability, 24 / 7 support and monitoring, and regular auditing.
The actual execution and impact of this approach will naturally vary from project to project and sector to sector, but it is essential that all OESs, their technology partners, and all organisations acting as part of their supply chains are ready and willing to adopt these principles, not only to fulfil their specific compliance obligations, but to ensure their services remain secure and available to citizens across the UK.
In this way, the 'secure by design' approach represents a powerful investment in your organisation's future, ensuring the continued availability and integrity of the critical product or service you provide.
Whatever the nature of your next project, if you are ready to adopt a 'secure by design' approach, don't hesitate to contact us. We will collaborate with you to establish an appropriate and proportionate approach, aligned with industry best practice and regulatory compliance, and drawing on our deep experience as an experienced supplier to the Defence, Energy, and wider CNI sectors.
In this way, the 'secure by design' approach represents a powerful investment in your organisation's future, ensuring the continued availability and integrity of the critical product or service you provide.
Whatever the nature of your next project, if you are ready to adopt a 'secure by design' approach, don't hesitate to contact us. We will collaborate with you to establish an appropriate and proportionate approach, aligned with industry best practice and regulatory compliance, and drawing on our deep experience as an experienced supplier to the Defence, Energy, and wider CNI sectors.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
The ongoing evolution of our nation's Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) requires large-scale CAPEX investment in core infrastructure, along with the introduction of digital initiatives that support the convergence of physical and digital systems, enhancing performance, efficiency, and availability. This presents a multi-dimensional challenge for CNI organisations, who are often forced to accelerate or adapt their long-term transformation roadmaps, whether this means scaling, restructuring, preparing for an exit or investment, or a combination of all three.
In parallel, the increasing deployment of digital technology amongst Operators of Essential Services (OESs) has led to a range of new security and compliance challenges. When shareholders are made aware of these risks, they - correctly, demand reassurance that their high-value investments will be protected.
For this reason, technology partners supporting CNI verticals must be alert to the requirements of a diverse stakeholder community, offering informed advice throughout the investment process, providing an accurate assessment of risk and compliance challenges, and translating often conflicting priorities into deliverable actions that will drive business growth.
Let's consider how this should work in practice...
Enabling data-driven decision-making throughout mergers and acquisitions
When physical and digital assets are seamlessly and securely interconnected, operators enjoy access to rich veins of real-time data around the status of key platforms. This data can be used to accurately benchmark all security and operational risks against technical and regulatory compliance, establishing their potential impact on service availability and, in turn - the predicted ROI.
When this level of visibility has been achieved, improvements in both efficiency and profitability are unlocked, benefiting the wider stakeholder community and enabling more informed decision-making throughout every stage of mergers and acquisitions, including:
- Pre-acquisition due diligence: Identifying technical debt and flaws, establishing security and compliance risks with a concrete value for their remediation.
- Post-acquisition investment: Establishing OPEX costs needed to support effective systems and processes to ensure the continued security and compliance of critical infrastructure.
- Exit readiness: Creating a definitive, auditable log of critical assets, reflecting full regulatory compliance and the ability to meet investor scrutiny.
Specialist IT / OT advisory and support to protect investments
This role can be taken further, with technology partners serving as advisors to PE firms and mid-cap boards, providing them with the technical and operational oversight they need to protect and validate their investments. This should begin with rigorous technical (i.e. the IEC62443 standard) and regulatory (i.e. NIS-2018 / CAF) assessments, conducted in line with the overall risk appetite and corporate strategy. Once these information streams have been established, they can be used to augment CIO and CISOs' capabilities, bridging the knowledge gap between enterprise IT and OT systems and optimising governance and risk management.
When it comes to making informed investments in critical infrastructure, the value of objective, strategic guidance from experienced specialists cannot be overstated. Technology partners who are able to support IT leadership in this way will evolve from pure providers to true enablers of business growth, providing tangible value to investors while optimising the performance, security, and availability of critical services.
If you require guidance around any planned or existing investments in CNI infrastructure, contact us to arrange a consultation of potential risks and a detailed assessment of how they can be mitigated, based on globally recognised standards and our deep experience across multiple CNI verticals, including Energy, Utilities, Transport, Defence, and Industry.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
It's a challenging time for numerous sectors, particularly those responsible for delivering critical services to citizens across the UK. As attacks on national infrastructure by global bad actors increase in frequency and severity, organisations must be willing to do everything it takes to ensure their data is protected against not only the latest cyber threats, but any potential 'acts of God', such as outages or environmental disasters.
In other words, a new standard of resilience is required for the hosting solutions organisations across the public and private sectors depend on to deliver their services. Fortunately, leading-edge data centres - the breed utilised for hosting Government services - have made considerable strides in this regard, but for organisations to achieve this new standard, they must be able to identify both the right data centres, and the right technology partner to support the migration process.
If you are in the process of reconsidering your own hosting services, here are the key elements to look for:
Diverse networking and connectivity
No two organisations' networking and connectivity requirements will be exactly the same, especially when it comes to the delivery of critical services across the country. Truly world-class data centres will be built with this level of diversity inherent in design, offering a range of options for securely connecting to corporate infrastructure.
The right accreditations in place
Ideally, any data centre utilised for hosting critical data should be accredited to Pan Government Assured Official or higher. This represents a clear indication that the facilities in question maintain the very highest standards of cyber security, particularly when it comes to the hosting of Cloud services.
Effective business continuity systems
Even the smallest period of downtime will likely result in serious financial and reputational consequences, which means the time between systems going down and coming back online must be kept to the absolute minimum. The use of multiple, geographically dispersed data centres is a highly attractive option here, ensuring backup infrastructure can be deployed and data secured at the earliest opportunity in the event of an incident.
World-class physical security
While cyberattacks continue to grow in sophistication and cyber security ecosystems continuously evolve to stay one step ahead of bad actors, it is important that we do not underestimate the continued importance of physical security. In spite of the advances made in cyber security, human error remains the primary cause of data breaches, which means any data centres chosen to host critical data must have first-class systems in place to mitigate this risk, including access control, integrated cameras and alarms, a single point of entry, and additional systems to secure high-risk areas.
Robust SLAs
Finally, for complete peace of mind, each of these elements should be reflected in robust SLAs, with clear standards in place regarding availability, power, and cooling. 99%+ availability should be considered the baseline and clear disaster recovery processes should be in place.
Achieving a successful migration to the right data centre
Taking all of the above into account, there's no doubt that any data centre migration will present a significant challenge - from the choice of facilities to ensuring the migration does not lead to any operational disruption or security compromises.
Vysiion have long served as a trusted technology partner for numerous organisations across the public and private sectors in this regard, planning and executing bespoke migrations into the Government-approved Crown Hosting Data Centres, providing access to the numerous these world-class facilities offer in terms of performance, security, and resilience.
To explore your own current level of resilience and establish how best to ensure that you will always be able to stay ahead in an evolving digital landscape, even in the event of the unexpected, just contact us.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
With the new UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) regulations launching in October 2024, intended to boost the whole CNI sector's operational resilience and ability to manage cyber risk, Operators of Essential Services (OES) must be ready to take a proactive, structured, and auditable approach to security in order to achieve and maintain full compliance with the new legislation.
However, the resilience of CNI systems presents a number of singular challenges, all of which must be given careful consideration as we prepare for the new legislation's official launch. Central to this, any downtime not only costs millions but can leave citizens without critical services and - in extreme cases - damage assets and put people at risk of injury.
As will become clear, this process is very much a journey rather than a one-off project, but with the support of trusted technology partners, it will help to ensure the critical services that citizens depend on remain secure and available, able to weather the most sophisticated attacks.
The following should be considered the first steps of this journey, not only in terms of achieving full NIS 2 compliance, but also for establishing a whole new standard of operational resilience across the UK's entire CNI sector…
Identifying the hidden assets within CNI infrastructure
The OES must be able to provide details of what essential services, functions, systems, and sites, are within the scope of the NIS regulations.
Managing, monitoring, and updating legacy infrastructure, remains a vital element of cyber security best practice. However, CNI systems frequently include legacy OT assets that are deeply embedded and difficult to replace without unacceptable risk or disruption to critical operations. Unfortunately, this may only become apparent when the asset in question needs to be remediated and/or fails to restore after an update.
A proactive approach to the management and support of CNI OT systems is an essential component of NIS compliance. This should include monitoring tools that provide visibility of all assets and dataflows, and the ability to detect and alert security threats.
Fortunately, there are three references that support the journey:
- The Purdue Model. A well-established model for the segmentation of assets within ICS networks and the hierarchy of dataflows between them, based on four/five distinct 'zones'.
- Cyber Assessment Framework. A structure and collection of outcome-based resources for organisations to follow, providing a reference guide to help build robust cyber resilience plans.
- IEC 62443. An internationally recognised standard for the security of control systems, and the cyber security lifecycle. There are numerous elements to this, but of particular importance is planning end-of-life support for any new assets introduced into a system.
A full audit of all assets, based on these three models, is therefore the first step towards secure CNI, ensuring all legacy infrastructure has been accounted for and factored into the design of the security ecosystem. This should not only cover the assets themselves, but also the data they generate, how the data is processed, stored, and disseminated, what data needs to flow through the iDMZ, and what data needs to be accessed through a secure gateway.
The increasing convergence of IT and OT means that physical security systems (i.e. cameras and locks) must also be factored into the auditing process, something that we will explore in depth in a future article.
Know your infrastructure, understand the threat landscape
The OES must take appropriate and proportionate measures to prevent and minimise the impact of a cyber incident.
The next step is the implementation of an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), which can then normalise dataflows across the entire infrastructure and establish a baseline, so any anomalies can be automatically detected. This doesn't just mean security issues – it could also means planned maintenance, the deployment of new hardware, or elements of a specific project. Regardless of the cause, as soon as a deviation from the established baseline has been detected, the CSOC should receive an automatic alert.
This can then be expanded to draw on wider threat feeds, ensuring security teams are able to proactively secure against the very latest threats, and conduct rigorous post-mortem procedures after a validated cyber incident. Likewise, if the alert is a consequence of new assets being added or a network re-configuration, the IDS toolset can be used to establish a new baseline.
A systematic approach to testing and patching
In a heightened threat landscape, effective testing and patching is critical, but the OES must balance this against critical IT/OT systems' unique operating models.
Once full visibility of all assets and dataflows has been established, it is time to prepare for the worst. With cyberattacks against CNI systems now a near-certainty, it is unfortunately a question of 'when' not 'if' a breach occurs, which means a proactive approach to maintaining the security of all physical and digital assets is essential.
While most organisations will already have some form of regular cyber security testing in place, default IT methodologies are not suitable for integrated IT/OT systems. For example, it is common to automate patching for IT systems, ensuring the latest security updates are implemented as soon as they become available. However, this represents a significant risk for critical, high-availability OT systems and an alternative approach must therefore be taken, with testing and patching carefully controlled and co-ordinated.
Threats and vulnerabilities must be categorised and prioritised on a 'now', 'next', and 'never' basis, supported by a rigorous bi-annual maintenance schedule, undertaken by a trusted third-party. Any partner undertaking such a role must be able to demonstrate proven experience in the convergence of IT and OT and the three methodologies discussed earlier, as well as the ability to supply UK NSV-cleared staff.
NIS 2 compliance and beyond – a unique model of operational resilience
Failure to comply with these obligations could result in enforcement action and penalties, including fines of up to £17 million, depending on the severity and duration of the non-compliance and the harm caused.
As the new NIS 2 fast approaches, CNI's critical IT and OT systems need to evolve at pace. But as they do so, they must accommodate the operational complexity of high-availability systems and sector-specific constraints. When we give this deeper consideration, it becomes clear that the new NIS 2 is very much the latest step of a much longer journey. The decision-making involved – both now and in the years ahead – will be inherently complex, making the support of the right technology partner essential.
Contact us if you'd like to discuss anything we've covered here, and any other aspects of the new NIS 2 regulations before they come into effect. Our highly consultative approach and edge-to-core knowledge of OT and IT technology means that Vysiion are perfectly placed to support you on the journey to compliance and beyond.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
The UK's emergency services are undergoing a period of profound digital transformation, phasing out legacy platforms and connectivity in favour of highly secure, resilient platforms that support seamless communication and collaboration between frontline responders, control rooms, and national coordination centres.
However, when even the smallest instance of downtime has the potential to cost lives, the security of citizens' data is a growing concern, and the Operators of Essential Services' (OES') range of compliance obligations continues to evolve, the digital transformation process becomes considerably more complex. In particular, the transactional approach to acquiring IT services of any sort, particularly with regards to SaaS platforms and software licensing, is increasing showing its limitations for OESs, adding unnecessary complexity to IT estates that inevitably results in spiralling OPEX costs, unclear pricing, and an overall lack of control and visibility.
Nonetheless, a seamless procurement process is the foundation of any successful digital initiative for emergency services, and so it is clear a different approach is required…
Enterprise Agreements (EAs) - consolidated contracts that enable the purchasing of IT services at scale, with everything delivered through a single strategic partner for a predetermined period - offer an extremely attractive alternative to traditional channels of procurement.
With all existing and future licences managed through a single agreement, delivered by a single supplier, OESs can access the IT services they depend on - both in the control room and on the front line, with consistent, locked in pricing, and the ability to scale up or down, as required.
This offers a far greater level of flexibility that traditional provisioning, as surplus licences can be automatically reallocated and additional ones provisioned for the same pricing established at the outset of the agreement, and with the same end date - a 'true forward' that eliminates the cost and inefficiency of transactional IT procurement. Even with the increasingly fast pace of the emergency services' digital transformation, this allows for a more predictable budget and frequently leads to significant cost savings that can be reinvested in new service improvements, ultimately resulting in more lives saved.
The Exponential-e Group - Exponential-e, Vysiion, and Xpertex - have long championed such agreements across the public sector, including in our capacity as the only privately-owned UK Key Supplier to the Home Office's Emergency Services Network User Services Programme, and its ongoing work with the Ambulance Radio Programme (ARP). In the case of the latter, an EA has significantly streamlined the implementation of key Cisco platforms, with the Group's own teams supporting their design, delivery, and management as part of the service.
This model could easily be extended to other Trusts, and tailored to suit their unique requirements, particularly when legacy contracts are approaching their expiration. By transitioning to an EA with a trusted supplier, Trusts' own teams will dramatically simplify the management of their IT estates, without compromising their ability to scale and pivot as their operations expand and systems evolve, particularly with the upcoming launch of the ESN.
If you're ready to explore your own Trust's opportunities for digital transformation and how you can adopt a more efficient, more cost-effective approach to IT procurement, get in touch today.
If you're ready to explore your own Trust's opportunities for digital transformation and how you can adopt a more efficient, more cost-effective approach to IT procurement, get in touch today.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
The Cloud has fundamentally changed the way organisations across a range of sectors design, manage, and scale their IT infrastructure. In many cases, this has allowed them to stay abreast of unexpected shifts in the digital landscape while retaining full control of ongoing costs and turning their growing volumes of data into a powerful source of business insights. But when it comes to digital transformation, there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. At Vysiion, we've seen this over and over again throughout our work with organisations operating in some of the harshest environments, with some of the most rigorous security and compliance requirements.
In many such cases, where critical applications and data need to be available in as close to real-time as possible, the only answer is to locate hardware at the edge, which naturally limits opportunities for Cloud transformation. However, now more than ever, technology tends to evolve to fulfil the most specific requirements, especially when organisations and their technology partners work in close collaboration to drive new innovations. In fact, we may already be seeing such solutions emerging in response to these singular requirements…
Hyperconverged Infrastructure opens the door
to next-gen hybrid Cloud
Azure Stack HCI, for example, offers a new approach to Cloud transformation that enables specific systems to be maintained at the edge, where necessary – a true hybrid approach that allows Cloud platforms to be seamlessly integrated with edge computing environments to achieve the desired functionality.
The use of containerisation and virtual machines offers a level of control and flexibility that would be difficult, if not impossible, to execute exclusively with on-premises systems, while still ensuring data sovereignty and compliance obligations can be met. For additional layers of security and resilience, integration with Azure Security Center and Azure Defender is available, along with built-in redundancy.
All of this can be manged through a centralised control panel, allowing for complete visibility of operations and data flows, even for the most remote locations.
This approach has huge implications for AI and IoT projects at the edge, allowing for real-time monitoring and analytics, combined with intelligent automation of routine processes to maximise operational efficiency.
But, once again, this is not without its limitations, as standard hardware is rarely suitable for the harshest, most challenging environments – such as military zones, highly remote energy sites (e.g. oil rigs and offshore windfarms), or industrial conditions – which may make Azure Stack HCI challenging to implement.
Is ruggedised Azure HCI the ultimate edge computing solution for Defence, CNI, and Manufacturing?
It is clear that Azure Stack HCI's potential across these sectors is enormous. We must therefore consider how it can be implemented in such a way as to access all the possible benefits, while still maintaining the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in situations when environmental conditions may lead to failures.
However, based on a range of ongoing conversations with our customers and technology partners, we would argue that such measures are already available. By combining Azure HCI's full range of capabilities with high-quality, ruggedised hardware, true 'always-on' operations can be established, with seamless, highly secure flows of critical data between edge devices and the Cloud.
Whatever environments you operate in, and whatever your digital goals are at the edge, in the Cloud, or both, do not hesitate to contact us. Drawing on our deep experience designing bespoke digital transformation solutions to the most rigorous specifications, our teams will work closely with you to achieve your long-term goals, and so help establish a new standard of digital best practice across the most challenging sectors.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
It was recently reported that the Volt Typhoon group, already responsible for security breaches involving thousands of internet-connected devices - was able to access the US National Grid, where it remained undetected for more than 300 days.
This incident further reinforces that the biggest challenge in securing Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) is protecting and detecting threats within legacy assets - an issue compounded by the long lifespan of OT devices. State-sponsored groups like Volt Typhoon exploit known vulnerabilities, such as weak credentials and unpatched systems, to establish long-term footholds in critical environments.
Yet, across the industry, there remains a deep-rooted reluctance to modify or upgrade critical safety systems simply because they 'work.' The fear of operational disruption often outweighs security concerns, slowing progress at a time when the threat landscape is evolving rapidly. While this mindset is beginning to shift, change needs to happen faster.
That said, security standards cannot afford to slip. Regulations such as the new NIS 2 are now driving compliance, forcing organisations to take a more structured approach to securing OT environments. A proactive stance is essential, integrating secure-by-design principles, network segmentation, and OT-specific monitoring to detect stealthy threats before they escalate.
However, all is not lost, legacy systems can still be protected and brought into compliance without the need for a full-scale technology refresh. Targeted security measures, such as passive monitoring, compensating controls, and robust network architecture, can strengthen defences without disrupting operations. The Volt Typhoon campaign is a wake-up call - security must be a fundamental part of an OT system's lifecycle, not an afterthought.
Putting those security considerations at the heart of our approach to OT system lifecycle management at Vysiion. We have years of experience in the design and deployment of these systems, such that they are secure at the point of implementation and have been promoting (for almost as long) the value of maintaining that security through proactive monitoring and maintenance.
Whether we are talking about state-of-the art or legacy environments, we have the tools and capability to provide that protection, and support compliance to industry standards such as NIS 2. This encompasses:
- Our 24 / 7 NOC / SOC function providing around the clock monitoring and incident response capability
UTLISING
- A toolset developed by industry leaders such as Dragos, focused on identifying and responding to threats specific to the OT world.
- Maintenance teams delivering, via a secure remote access platform, proactive mitigation of threats and vulnerabilities that understand the realities of OT operation and work with customers to minimise operational impact.
ENHANCED WITH
- Field operations teams to provide on-site support and maintenance, where remote access is not feasible.
- An experienced design and delivery function, focused on the OT world, providing design leadership and guidance that recognises the commercial and operational realities that our OT customers operate within.
If you're in any way concerned about the ongoing convergence of IT and OT, the evolving regulatory landscape, or any of the increasingly complex security challenges the CNI sector must consider, don't hesitate to contact us. Our specialists are already working with OESs across the UK to establish new standards of security and resilience for the infrastructure our critical services depend on and are ready to explore your own challenges in depth, accelerating your organisation's digital journey.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
With manufacturing now officially incorporated into the UK's CNI sector, its overall levels of resilience and security must be reconsidered, incorporating best practice and technical innovations from other companies from across the sector (i.e. utilities and transport firms).
A key aspect of this will involve expanding manufacturers' definition of resilience beyond the safety and performance of physical machines to the integrity of the growing volumes of data generated on-site, and the cross-site connections that are increasingly powering tomorrow's interconnected workflows.
This is more than just a 'nice to have'. The recently announced Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is just the latest step in governments around the world taking proactive steps to secure public services – and the digital platforms and supply chains that support them – in an increasingly turbulent geopolitical landscape. As we close out Critical Infrastructure Security Month, the need for new standards of security and resilience across the entire CNI sector has never been higher, so let's explore the steps manufacturers can take to proactively establish this across their operations.
Optimising the resilience of manufacturing data lakes
The rise of 'smart' technologies within manufacturing operations is transforming the sector's workflows, but also significantly increasing the volumes of data that must now be stored and managed in full compliance with all CNI regulations, including the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, EU NIS 2, and eCAF. Storing these large volumes of structured and unstructured data onsite will likely prove impractical, introducing a serious financial and operational burden, but at the same time, the need for real-time visibility of manufacturing operations, along with increasingly complex security and compliance challenges, means a full-scale move to the Cloud will not necessarily be viable.
Colocation offers an alternative way forward here, offering manufacturers a single answer to a range of data hosting challenges. By relocating specific volumes of data to dedicated space in external, geographically dispersed data centres, while keeping others on-site – potentially as part of a wider hybrid Cloud strategy – manufacturers will enjoy a whole new level of flexibility in terms of how they store and manage their data that will, in turn, bring them up to the standards of operational resilience that CNI demands.
Of course, putting all this into practice requires a world-class hosting environment…Enter your text here...
How Vysiion are providing the foundation for more resilient manufacturing across the UK
This is why Vysiion continues to maintain our presence in the Tier III Ark data centres – the Government's hosting environment of choice and the only data centres with pan-government accreditation at all security levels. As an active presence in these highly secure, eco-friendly hosting environments, we have helped organisations across a range of sectors develop approaches to data hosting that support the most complex workflows and compliance obligations, offering hands-on support throughout the migration process to minimise any disruption. This includes connections to the secure private networks utilised across manufacturing operations, where necessary.
Our presence in the Ark data centres, combined with our deep experience around 'smart' technologies, the ongoing convergence of IT and OT, and the manufacturing sector's unique workflows and operational models – plus comprehensive cyber security capabilities – means we are able to help you manage your data in the way that best suits your operations, your budget, and your evolving compliance obligations.
Just contact us if you would like to discuss your own manufacturing operations' data hosting requirements in greater depth.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
Across the UK, the security of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) is a growing concern, as the increasingly interconnected nature of the systems we depend on create a whole new range of potential attack vectors - all of which global bad actors are already racing to take advantage of, executing a range of increasingly insidious, sophisticated strategies to compromise the systems on which we all depend.
With this in mind, it is essential that the CNI sector as a whole is ready to work closely with its technology partners to establish a new standard of security - one that encompasses both IT and OT, ensuring that their increased and ongoing convergence does not put the integrity of our critical data at risk. This presents a number of challenges when we consider the highly remote nature of most CNI environments, the inherent complexity of the resulting cross-site dataflows, and the need for a cyber security posture that ensures reliable and remote access can still be provided, when required.
What is a Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)?
A DMZ is combination of equipment (including, but not limited to, routers, firewalls, and switches) deployed when third parties require secure remote access to certain assets within the site. It accomplishes this by segmenting the on-site network, based on access rights and security policies on a per user or per team basis, so the measures taken to grant access (e.g. opening the ports on firewalls) can be automated, reducing the need for manual intervention. Dual-factor authentication is the applied to ensure only an "allow-list" of individuals can gain access. This way, it is impossible for bad actors to access the assets in question without gaining control of the designated individuals' own equipment, allowing seamless remote access to coexist with a robust security posture.
A DMZ is a key security tool for any challenging and remote CNI environments (e.g. offshore windfarms) where providing third parties with on-site access will not typically be an option, due to cost, safety, and compliance obligations. However, while the concept is ostensibly simple, putting it into practice is challenging…
Securing the most complex CNI environments
The process for creating an effective DMZ will naturally vary from site to site, depending on the nature of the systems and the access rights that will need to be established and implemented. This all begins with a pro-forma document, setting out the systems that need to be secured (including all IP addresses and subnets), the teams, individuals, and their roles that require access, and the tools and protocols they will be using to do so.
In other words, it is an inherently bespoke process that demands a keen understanding of the convergence of IT and OT, the new dataflows this creates, and how these can be secured without compromising operational performance. Any DMZ project must begin with a period of in-depth consultation to collate all the information required for the design and deployment phases. This will be followed by a period of intensive testing and review to ensure the pro-forma is correct and has been correctly executed.
Once the DMZ has been established, it will need to be continually monitored, audited, and updated, as policies evolve, team members join and leave, and new security vulnerabilities emerge. This will require CNI organisations to cultivate strong, long-lasting partnerships with their technology providers, entrusted to provide ongoing support and consultation as the threat landscape evolves.
If you would like to explore the security of your own CNI environments, do not hesitate to contact the team. Vysiion has served a trusted technology partner for organisations across the UK's CNI sector since 1996, delivering over £200 million of projects on an international scale. As part of this, we have designed, deployed, and continue to manage and maintain a range of leading-edge DMZs, drawing on our deep knowledge of IT / OT integration and Cloud transformation, and utilising the full range of our evolving solution portfolio. Whatever the nature of your sites, dataflows, and security requirements, we will work closely with you to deliver a tailor-made solution that optimises both data protection and operational efficiency, then work closely with you to maintain it as the threat landscape evolves.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
Across manufacturing operations, the physical and the digital are converging. Everywhere from factory floors to global supply networks, the growing volumes of data generated by physical hardware, the next generation of 'smart' devices - are in constant flow, allowing for micro and macro views of processes that would previously have been impossible to achieve. When it comes to developing more efficient, cost-effective, and intelligently integrated operations, the possibilities are truly immense.
Secure by Design
But as the sector explores how these new models can be used to bring new innovations to life, it is important that the ongoing challenge of security is not neglected. A recent report revealed that almost half of UK manufacturers had experienced a cyber security breach, with more than 25% of respondents experiencing financial loss as a result. As smart technologies and the IoT continue to establish themselves, a range of new attack vectors will be created across manufacturing operations - all of which bad actors will be ready and waiting to take advantage of.
While all manufacturers will already have both physical and cyber security systems in place, it is time to consider how these can evolve to best serve the new operational models emerging across the sector...
Don't discount the Purdue Model!
Introduced in 1992 by Theodore J. Williams and the Purdue University Consortium, the Purdue Model has long formed the basis of OT security ecosystems for manufacturing operations by providing a robust model for the associated digital workflows. It accomplishes this by dividing the underlying architecture in six distinct 'zones':
- Level 4 / 5: Enterprise zone
The primary network functions that help orchestrate manufacturing operations. - Level 3.5: Demilitarised zone
Firewalls, proxies, and other security systems designed to protect against lateral moving threats. - Level 3: Manufacturing Operations Systems Zone
The OT systems responsible for production workflows, i.e. day-to-day operations on the shop floor. - Level 2: Control Systems Zone
The systems that control and monitor physical processes and manage the data generated. - Level 1: Intelligent Devices Zone
The instruments that control the devices at level 0. - Level 0: Physical Process Zone
The devices that execute a range of physical actions throughout the production process, which may be connected to monitoring systems in the Cloud.
This model has proven its worth for more than thirty years now, supporting the design and delivery of security ecosystems that encompass both IT and OT. However, with the rise of the IoT and smart devices, as well as the increasing speed of Cloud transformation, the different zones can frequently become blurred, which has led some to question whether it is still applicable to modern manufacturing.
We would argue that although data may now frequently travel between several zones at once, the Purdue Model's segmentation still provides a helpful way of understanding the different ways in which data flows across manufacturing operations and -critically - the potential attack vectors that are created as it does so. The new breed of cyber security for manufacturing must build on this well-established approach, along with considering emerging standards like IEC 62443, the zero-trust model, and the NIS-Directive due to come into force in October of this year, in order to ensure the integrity of these complex dataflows.
Agile security for agile operations
Establishing this new model of cyber security will be very much a journey rather than an event - one that requires close collaboration between manufacturers and trusted technology partners who cannot just demonstrate substantial experience within the sector, but also around the successful integration of IT and OT. Vysiion has been a long-time supporter of the manufacturing sector in this regard, working closely with industry leaders to ensure their security ecosystems remain fit for purpose and support the ongoing innovation for which the sector is renowned.
To explore how to optimise the security of your own manufacturing operations, while simultaneously embracing the opportunities opened up by the convergence of IT and OT, do not hesitate to contact us.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
Across the UK, people are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of the products and services they consume in both their personal and professional lives. More and more, organisations delivering critical services are challenged by the Government and the public alike to demonstrate robust green credentials, and tangible evidence of their efforts to operate in a more sustainable manner at all levels.
As a result, numerous organisations are seizing the opportunity to examine every area of their operations and see what optimisations can be made to reduce the consumption of resources, without compromising security or performance, bringing them in line with the Government's Net Zero objectives, and positioning themselves as responsible, ethical companies in the eyes of those who utilise their services.
With higher and higher volumes of data generated each day - all of which must be stored in full compliance with the applicable regulations - and organisations across numerous sectors accelerating their Cloud transformation journeys, data centre operations represent an ongoing financial, operational, and environmental concern that must be considered as part of this process.
Considering a new breed of data centre
The challenge here is that data centres are inherently energy intensive facilities that consume huge volumes of power each day, and this is only going to increase in the years ahead as higher and higher volumes of data must be stored in a way that guarantees its security and integrity, while ensuring it remains accessible to authorised individuals. Nonetheless, considerable strides have been made in recent years, with a new breed of data centre allowing for environmental concerns to effortlessly co-exist with business ones.
The question then, is how organisations and their technology partners can achieve this 'best of both worlds' scenario. There are several key factors that must be considered when evaluating potential hosting facilities:
- The phasing out of fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy sources, such a solar power.
- Reducing waste, particularly water consumption, wherever possible.
- The implementation of air-cooling systems.
- Encouraging biodiversity, i.e. the range of animal and plant life in a given location.
- Achieving the lowest possible Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) - a universally recognised measure of a data centre's energy efficiency.
Facilities such as ARK Data Centres offer a range of opportunities in this regard, with existing users having achieved reductions of as much 75% for electricity usage and 99.9% for CO2 emissions compared to legacy on-premises infrastructure - not just a triumph of sustainability, but tangible savings that can be passed on to customers and end users.
As a trusted technology partner for organisations delivering critical services across the country, Vysiion is an active supporter of this journey, and works closely with innovators such as ARK Data Centres to establish a new standard of best practice when it comes to sustainable data hosting. Whether you are planning a full-scale move to the Cloud or considering a hybrid model, we will work closely with your own teams to ensure the highest level of sustainability is inherent in the design, and can be maintained as your organisation evolves in the years ahead. Just contact us if you're ready to do your own part as an environmental superhero!
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
Why colocation should be part of your Hybrid Cloud strategy
Now more than ever, organisations across the UK are challenged to do more with less, streamlining operations, reducing costs, and optimising efficiency - all without compromising the quality and availability of critical services.
UK organisations are finding that their existing on-premises systems are showing their limitations - struggling to keep up with the growing volumes of data that must be securely transferred and stored on a daily basis. This is further complicated by the drive for greener IT operations, which continues to pick up pace, and the need to store data in full compliance with all applicable regulations.
Put simply, legacy IT systems all too frequently represent an ongoing drain on an organisations' resources - one which can potentially be remedied by an effective hybrid Cloud strategy.
Let's consider why colocation should be an integral part of your hybrid cloud strategy:
A foundation for more cost effective, more environmentally friendly IT
Colocation frees IT teams of the financial and operational burden of maintaining on-premises hosting facilities, allowing critical data to be stored in leading-edge data centres that incorporate a range of systems for minimising energy usage, allowing for more environmentally friendly operations, even with the highest volumes of data.
Optimise security and resilience
Security and resilience remain critical priorities for all sectors, especially at a time when ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure are growing in frequency and severity. Colocation not only allows organisations to host their data in facilities with the very highest standards of physical and cyber security, but also up a range of options around redundancy, hosting backups in geographically dispersed locations for an additional level of resilience, ensuring critical data can be restored and secured as quickly as possible in the event of a breach.
Develop futureproof infrastructure through Cloud adoption
The right hosting solution will also expedite the journey to the Cloud - a growing priority for numerous organisations, and all the numerous advantages this offers in terms of control, flexibility, and scalability of infrastructure. Hybrid Cloud infrastructures are growing in popularity in this regard, allowing data that must be kept on-site to be retained, while still offering the numerous benefits of Cloud transformation.
How we are supporting organisations like yours with ongoing digital transformation journey
Taking full advantage of all these potential benefits, from achieving a successful migration, to maintaining the integrity of sensitive data in an increasingly complex threat landscape will require the ongoing support of a trusted technology partner. In this capacity, Vysiion has long championed digital transformation, working closely with a range of UK organisations to reduce their IT spend, and develop more efficient, sustainable ways of operating. Our deep knowledge of the sector's goals and challenges, combined with our presence in the world-leading Ark data centres makes us perfectly placed to help put the principles discussed in this article into practice, providing a one-stop-shop for digital transformation, Cloud adoption, and data centre migration.
Contact us to explore your hosting requirements in depth and find out more about how we can help you access the full range of new efficiencies and cost savings on offer.
Cyber-Secured Engineering
This brochure sets out the Exponential-e Group's pedigree across the CNI sector, and our full range of capabilities, with real-life case studies of our ongoing work with leaders and innovators across the sector.
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