Defending OT with ATT&CK: Enhancing Security for Critical Infrastructure
MITRE's Center for Threat-Informed Defense, alongside partners like AttackIQ and Siemens, has introduced a groundbreaking initiative called Defending OT with ATT&CK. This program aims to shield critical infrastructures such as power plants and water treatment facilities from cyber threats by detailing adversarial techniques that could affect these essential services.
Understanding the Need for Enhanced Security
Critical infrastructures are vital to our daily lives, yet they often lack the robust security measures present in corporate environments. As Mike Cunningham from MITRE explains, these systems are prime targets for cyber attackers. Hence, fortifying their defenses is crucial.
Key Components of Defending OT with ATT&CK
The initiative provides three main resources:
- Threat Model Methodology: This involves identifying how adversaries might attack the IT and OT systems.
- Reference Architecture: A visual guide to understanding how different technologies interact within an IT/OT environment.
- Threat Collection: A comprehensive list of adversarial techniques tailored to OT environments.
These components help organizations understand their technology assets and potential threats, allowing them to implement effective security controls.
Building a Secure Framework
The project expands on MITRE's Defending IaaS with ATT&CK by presenting a customizable framework for analyzing threats in hybrid IT/OT environments. This framework is essential for organizations to evaluate their security status and prepare for potential cyber threats.
Practical Application and Customization
Using the ATT&CK Workbench, organizations can build a custom threat collection. This tool provides the flexibility needed to analyze threats and assess risks across an organization's assets. The collection comprises 251 techniques and 441 sub-techniques, making it a robust resource for security planning.
Real-World Application
Organizations can utilize these resources for various purposes, including:
- Threat Intelligence Mapping: Understanding how threats may impact their systems.
- Red Teaming and Penetration Testing: Simulating attacks to evaluate defenses.
- Security Architecture Development: Creating systems for threat detection and response.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Directions
MITRE's collaborative approach involves gathering insights from various partners to enhance the program continually. They are currently seeking contributions to enrich their threat emulation, aiming for a holistic understanding of adversary behaviors.
Defending OT with ATT&CK represents a significant step forward in securing critical infrastructures against cyber threats, providing a detailed methodology and resources to safeguard our essential services.
