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Operational Technology (OT) has long been defined through a system-centric lens, focusing on components like PLCs, SCADA, and DCS. However, this IT-inspired perspective fails to capture the true essence of OT—its role in managing and reflecting real-world physical processes. A process-centric definition shifts the focus from mere digital infrastructure to operational integrity, where data is a real-time reflection of the physical world.
This redefinition has significant implications for cyber-physical risk management, security controls, and threat detection. Instead of just safeguarding systems, the priority becomes ensuring the continuity and safety of industrial processes.
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You Should Know:
Key Linux/OT Security Commands & Tools
1. Network Monitoring (Detecting Fast Flux DNS Attacks)
tcpdump -i eth0 'port 53' -w dns_traffic.pcap dnstop -l 5 eth0 Analyze DNS queries in real-time
Fast Flux detection requires analyzing rapid DNS record changes.
2. OT Asset Discovery
nmap -sS -Pn -p 502,44818,1911 --script modbus-discover.nse <ot_ip_range>
Modbus/TCP (502), EtherNet/IP (44818), and Fox (1911) are common OT protocols.
3. Process-Centric Logging (Syslog Forwarding)
rsyslogd -f /etc/rsyslog.conf Ensure OT device logs are centralized logger -p local4.warn "OT Process Anomaly Detected"
4. Windows OT Security (SCADA Hardening)
Get-Service -DisplayName "SCADA" | Stop-Service -Force Set-NetFirewallRule -Enabled True -Direction Inbound -Action Block -Profile Any
5. Detecting Malicious OT Traffic
suricata -c /etc/suricata/suricata.yaml -i eth0 IDS for OT protocols
6. Securing ICS Protocols
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 502 -j DROP Block unauthorized Modbus
What Undercode Say:
The shift from system-centric to process-centric OT security demands new tools and methodologies. Traditional IT security fails in OT environments where operational continuity is paramount. Implementing DNS monitoring, OT-specific firewalls, and anomaly detection in process data (e.g., using Python scripts to analyze SCADA logs) is critical.
Example Python Script for OT Log Analysis:
import pandas as pd
logs = pd.read_csv('scada_logs.csv')
anomalies = logs[logs['response_time'] > 1000] Detect latency spikes
anomalies.to_csv('ot_anomalies.csv')
Expected Output:
A hardened OT environment where process integrity drives security decisions, complemented by real-time monitoring and automated threat response.
References:
Reported By: Sihoko Is – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
