OT Security Simplified: The BASIC Framework

Operational Technology (OT) security is critical for safeguarding industrial control systems (ICS) and critical infrastructure. Mike Holcomb’s B.A.S.I.C. framework provides a straightforward yet effective approach to securing OT environments without unnecessary complexity.

B.A.S.I.C. Framework Breakdown

B. Backup & Recovery

Assume compromise is inevitable. Ensure:

• Regular, tested backups of OT systems.
• Physical spare components (e.g., PLCs, HMIs).
• Documented recovery procedures.

You Should Know:

• Linux: Use `rsync` for backup automation:

  rsync -avz /path/to/ot/data backup-server:/backup/ot/
  

• Windows: Schedule backups with wbadmin:

  wbadmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -include:C:\OT_Systems -quiet
  

A. Asset Management

You can’t protect what you don’t know. Maintain:

• A complete asset inventory (IPs, firmware, vendor details).
• Network maps for visibility.

You Should Know:

• Nmap for OT asset discovery (use cautiously):

  nmap -sT --script=banner -Pn -p 1-1024 192.168.1.0/24
  

• Windows: List connected devices via PowerShell:

  Get-PnpDevice | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq "OK"} | Select-Object FriendlyName, InstanceId
  

S. Secure Network Architecture

Limit attack paths:

• Implement IT/OT DMZ.
• Segment OT networks into zones.

You Should Know:

• Linux firewall (iptables):

  iptables -A FORWARD -i eth0 -o eth1 -j DROP  Block IT-to-OT traffic
  

• Windows Firewall: Restrict OT subnet access:

  New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block IT-OT" -Direction Outbound -RemoteAddress 192.168.2.0/24 -Action Block
  

I. Incident Response Planning

Prepare for breaches:

• Define roles (who to call).
• Test disconnecting OT from IT safely.

You Should Know:

• Linux logging for OT:

  journalctl -u industrial-service --no-pager -n 50  Check OT service logs
  

• Windows Event Logs: Filter OT security events:

  Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='Security'; ID=4625}  Failed logins
  

C. Continuous Vulnerability Management

• Track CVEs affecting OT devices.
• Patch based on risk and maintenance cycles.

You Should Know:

• Linux (OpenVAS): Scan OT devices:

  gvm-cli --gmp-username admin --gmp-password pass scan_target 192.168.1.100
  

• Windows (Nessus): Export vulnerabilities:

  Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "http://nessus-server:8834/scans" -UseBasicParsing
  

What Undercode Say

OT security doesn’t require overengineering—just disciplined execution of fundamentals. The B.A.S.I.C. framework ensures resilience through backups, asset visibility, network segmentation, incident readiness, and vulnerability management.

Expected Output:

A hardened OT environment with reduced attack surface, faster recovery, and proactive threat mitigation.

References:

• NIST Guide to OT Security (SP 800-82)
• CISA ICS Advisory

References:

Reported By: Daneclackworthy Securing – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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