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OT-Sicherheit

Was ist OT Sicherheit?

Mangel an Informationen über die Absichten von Cyber-Angreifern

Angriffe abwehren

Vermögenswerte gegen ausgeklügelte und langwierige Angriffe absichern

Cyberangriffe zu studieren, ohne die Sicherheit oder die Integrität der Infrastruktur zu kompromittieren

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

Recent and important updates you need to know (2023-2025)

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

Practical roadmap: how to implement 62443

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

Typical pitfalls, misinterpretations & how to avoid them

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

Shieldworkz IEC 62443 service portfolio - mapped to the standard parts

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

Outcomes, commercial value and KPIs

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

Checklist: a tactical “first 90 days” plan for asset owners

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

Next steps - get a free discovery call / demo with Shieldworkz

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

FAQ, short answers to common questions

Who’s in scope (essential vs important entities, the size-cap, cross-border reach)

1. Einführung in die OT-Sicherheit

OT-Sicherheit oder Sicherheit von Operationstechnologien ist die Praxis, kritische Infrastrukturen und industrielle Systeme vor Cyberbedrohungen zu schützen. Diese Systeme, zu denen alles von Stromnetzen und Wasseraufbereitungsanlagen bis hin zu Fabriken und Verkehrsnetzen gehört, sind das Rückgrat der modernen Gesellschaft. Im Gegensatz zu traditionellen IT-Systemen sind OT-Systeme dafür ausgelegt, physische Prozesse zu steuern und arbeiten oft in Echtzeit, was sie sowohl einzigartig als auch äußerst anfällig für Cyberangriffe macht.

OT-Sicherheit oder Sicherheit von Betriebstechnologien ist die Praxis, kritische Infrastrukturen und industrielle Systeme vor Cyberbedrohungen zu schützen. Zu diesen Systemen gehören alles von Stromnetzen und Wasseraufbereitungsanlagen bis hin zu Produktionsstätten und Verkehrsinfrastrukturen, die das Rückgrat der modernen Gesellschaft bilden. Im Gegensatz zu traditionellen IT-Systemen sind OT-Systeme darauf ausgelegt, physische Prozesse zu steuern, und operieren oft in Echtzeit, was sie sowohl einzigartig als auch äußerst anfällig für Cyberangriffe macht.

Wichtige Unterschiede zwischen OT- und IT-Systemen

Industrial environments are not “IT networks with fancy PLCs” - they are safety-critical, long-lived engineering ecosystems with constraints (legacy controllers, deterministic communications, strict uptime and change-control). Attacks on industrial systems produce physical consequences: production loss, environmental damage, regulatory fines and safety incidents.

Zweck: OT-Systeme steuern physikalische Prozesse (z.B. Energieverteilung, Wasseraufbereitung), während IT-Systeme Daten und Informationen verwalten.

Betriebsanforderungen: OT-Systeme erfordern hohe Verfügbarkeit und Zuverlässigkeit und arbeiten oft rund um die Uhr mit minimalen Ausfallzeiten.

Lebensdauer: OT-Geräte haben oft eine Lebensdauer von 10-20 Jahren, im Vergleich zu IT-Systemen, die typischerweise alle 3-5 Jahre aktualisiert werden.

Risk-based investment: 62443 maps risks to specific technical requirements and helps prioritize spend.

IEC 62443 matters to OT/ICS

Shieldworkz IEC 62443

OT Systems is Critical

Warum die Sicherung von OT-Systemen entscheidend ist

Um ein klareres Verständnis der Unterschiede zu vermitteln, fasst die folgende Tabelle die wichtigsten Unterschiede zwischen IT- und OT-Sicherheit zusammen:

Betriebliche Kontinuität: OT-Systeme sind entscheidend für die Aufrechterhaltung des täglichen Betriebs kritischer Infrastrukturen.

Sicherheit: Kompromittierte OT-Systeme können zu körperlichem Schaden oder Umweltdisastern führen.

Part 3 - System requirements (Risk assessment, zone/conduit design, SL targets)
Part 3-2 defines how to perform a risk assessment, partition systems into zones/conduits and set target security levels (SL-T) for each zone. Part 3-3 provides detailed system security requirements that map to the seven foundational requirements.

Part 4 - Component & Product requirements (Secure SDLC & technical controls)
Part 4-1 defines secure development lifecycle (SDL) practices for product vendors; 4-2 specifies the technical security requirements for components (device/firmware/software). Third-party conformity programs (e.g., ISASecure CSA) provide practical, testable routes to prove a product meets 4-2 requirements.

OT Systems is Critical

4. Security Levels & Foundational Requirements - how to think about them

IEC 62443 introduces the concept of Security Levels (SL) which help you translate risk into engineering targets.

Betriebliche Kontinuität: OT-Systeme sind entscheidend für die Aufrechterhaltung des täglichen Betriebs kritischer Infrastrukturen.

There are five defined SLs (SL-0 through SL-4). Each SL indicates the capability of the adversary the system must defend against - expressed by means, resources, skills and motivation. Practically, SLs act as allocation targets: the higher the SL, the stronger the technical controls required. When used correctly, SL selection is a consequence-and-impact driven decision, not just a “who is the attacker” exercise.

The seven Foundational Requirements (FRs)
Across parts of the standard, 62443 groups technical controls under seven FRs:

Identification & Authentication Control

Use Control (authorization)

System Integrity

Data Confidentiality

Restricted Data Flow (segmentation)

Timely Response to Events (monitoring & IR)

Resource Availability (resilience & redundancy)

These FRs are the building blocks for technical requirements at component and system level. Your target SL dictates how each FR is realized in controls, verification and operational processes.

OT Systems is Critical

Warum OT-Sicherheit wichtig ist

Die digitale Transformation industrieller Umgebungen hat ohne Beispiel neue Risiken für OT-Systeme eingeführt. Da diese Systeme zunehmend mit IT-Netzwerken und dem Internet verbunden werden, sind sie mehr Cyberbedrohungen ausgesetzt. Hier sind die Hauptgründe, warum die Sicherheit von OT ein kritisches Anliegen ist:

Betriebsstörungen: Angriffe können Produktionslinien stoppen, die Stromversorgung unterbrechen oder Transportsysteme lahmlegen.

Finanzielle Verluste: Die Wiederherstellung nach einem OT-Sicherheitsvorfall kann äußerst kostspielig sein, einschließlich Kosten für Systemreparaturen, Ausfallzeiten und regulatorische Strafen.

Rufschädigung: Öffentliche Bekanntmachung eines Sicherheitsvorfalls kann das Vertrauen in eine Organisation und deren Fähigkeit, kritische Infrastrukturen zu schützen, untergraben.

Betriebsunterbrechung: Längere Zeiten der Systemunverfügbarkeit können zu erheblichen finanziellen Verlusten führen.

Durch das Verständnis der einzigartigen Herausforderungen und Risiken, die mit OT-Systemen verbunden sind, können Organisationen robuste Sicherheitsmaßnahmen implementieren, um ihre kritische Infrastruktur zu schützen.

In den folgenden Abschnitten werden wir untersuchen, wie Shieldworkz umfassende OT-Sicherheitslösungen bietet, die auf diese Herausforderungen zugeschnitten sind.

OT Systems is Critical

6. Practical roadmap - how to implement IEC 62443

Below is a pragmatic, executable program for asset owners and operators. Each phase has clear deliverables that are useful for procurement and for a third-party partner like Shieldworkz.

Phase 0 - Executive alignment (0-2 weeks)
Objective: secure sponsorship, assign roles, define scope.
Outputs: executive brief, charter, project sponsors, initial risk tolerance statement, prioritized asset list.

Phase 1 - Discovery & gap assessment (2-6 weeks)
Objective: baseline maturity vs 62443 (controls, policies, network maps).
Outputs: asset inventory, network/segment map (logical + physical), control maturity matrix (fast scorecard), prioritized gap register mapped to 62443 parts and SLs.

Phase 2 - CSMS design & policy (4-8 weeks)
Objective: build the program that will stay in place for years; map to 62443-2-1.
Outputs: CSMS blueprint, governance & roles, vendor assurance policy, secure remote access policy, patch management policy (aligned to 62443-2-3 guidance).

Phase 3 - Risk assessment, zoning & target SL assignment (3-8 weeks)
Objective: partition your system into zones and conduits and assign SL-T targets.
Outputs: Zones & conduits diagram, SL-T matrix per zone/conduit, prioritized mitigation roadmap tied to business consequences.

Note: choose SL targets based on consequences (safety, production, long-lead assets), not just attacker sophistication.

Phase 4 - Technical design & remediation (variable)
Objective: implement controls to achieve SL-T (network segmentation, device hardening, authentication, monitoring).
Outputs: segmentation rules, firewall policies, identity & access implementation, secure configuration baseline for devices, secure network architecture.

Phase 5 - Verification, product assurance & secure SDLC (ongoing)
Objective: ensure controls meet the technical requirements (3-3 / 4-2) via testing and supplier evidence.
Outputs: test plans, compliance evidence, vendor product assurance reports (e.g., ISASecure CSA), secure-development evidence from suppliers (4-1).

Phase 6 - Operate, monitor & continually improve (continuous)
Objective: run the CSMS, monitor for deviations, conduct periodic assessments and re-assign SLs as needed.
Outputs: continuous monitoring, incident response playbooks, annual CSMS review, supplier re-assessments.

Shieldworkz IEC 62443

OT Systems is Critical

Warum die Sicherung von OT-Systemen entscheidend ist

Um ein klareres Verständnis der Unterschiede zu vermitteln, fasst die folgende Tabelle die wichtigsten Unterschiede zwischen IT- und OT-Sicherheit zusammen:

Betriebliche Kontinuität: OT-Systeme sind entscheidend für die Aufrechterhaltung des täglichen Betriebs kritischer Infrastrukturen.

Sicherheit: Kompromittierte OT-Systeme können zu körperlichem Schaden oder Umweltdisastern führen.

Part 3 - System requirements (Risk assessment, zone/conduit design, SL targets)
Part 3-2 defines how to perform a risk assessment, partition systems into zones/conduits and set target security levels (SL-T) for each zone. Part 3-3 provides detailed system security requirements that map to the seven foundational requirements.

Part 4 - Component & Product requirements (Secure SDLC & technical controls)
Part 4-1 defines secure development lifecycle (SDL) practices for product vendors; 4-2 specifies the technical security requirements for components (device/firmware/software). Third-party conformity programs (e.g., ISASecure CSA) provide practical, testable routes to prove a product meets 4-2 requirements.

OT Systems is Critical

4. Security Levels & Foundational Requirements - how to think about them

IEC 62443 introduces the concept of Security Levels (SL) which help you translate risk into engineering targets.

Betriebliche Kontinuität: OT-Systeme sind entscheidend für die Aufrechterhaltung des täglichen Betriebs kritischer Infrastrukturen.

There are five defined SLs (SL-0 through SL-4). Each SL indicates the capability of the adversary the system must defend against - expressed by means, resources, skills and motivation. Practically, SLs act as allocation targets: the higher the SL, the stronger the technical controls required. When used correctly, SL selection is a consequence-and-impact driven decision, not just a “who is the attacker” exercise.

The seven Foundational Requirements (FRs)
Across parts of the standard, 62443 groups technical controls under seven FRs:

Identification & Authentication Control

Use Control (authorization)

System Integrity

Data Confidentiality

Restricted Data Flow (segmentation)

Timely Response to Events (monitoring & IR)

Resource Availability (resilience & redundancy)

These FRs are the building blocks for technical requirements at component and system level. Your target SL dictates how each FR is realized in controls, verification and operational processes.

OT Systems is Critical

Warum OT-Sicherheit wichtig ist

Die digitale Transformation industrieller Umgebungen hat ohne Beispiel neue Risiken für OT-Systeme eingeführt. Da diese Systeme zunehmend mit IT-Netzwerken und dem Internet verbunden werden, sind sie mehr Cyberbedrohungen ausgesetzt. Hier sind die Hauptgründe, warum die Sicherheit von OT ein kritisches Anliegen ist:

Betriebsstörungen: Angriffe können Produktionslinien stoppen, die Stromversorgung unterbrechen oder Transportsysteme lahmlegen.

Finanzielle Verluste: Die Wiederherstellung nach einem OT-Sicherheitsvorfall kann äußerst kostspielig sein, einschließlich Kosten für Systemreparaturen, Ausfallzeiten und regulatorische Strafen.

Rufschädigung: Öffentliche Bekanntmachung eines Sicherheitsvorfalls kann das Vertrauen in eine Organisation und deren Fähigkeit, kritische Infrastrukturen zu schützen, untergraben.

Betriebsunterbrechung: Längere Zeiten der Systemunverfügbarkeit können zu erheblichen finanziellen Verlusten führen.

Durch das Verständnis der einzigartigen Herausforderungen und Risiken, die mit OT-Systemen verbunden sind, können Organisationen robuste Sicherheitsmaßnahmen implementieren, um ihre kritische Infrastruktur zu schützen.

In den folgenden Abschnitten werden wir untersuchen, wie Shieldworkz umfassende OT-Sicherheitslösungen bietet, die auf diese Herausforderungen zugeschnitten sind.

OT Systems is Critical

6. Practical roadmap - how to implement IEC 62443

Below is a pragmatic, executable program for asset owners and operators. Each phase has clear deliverables that are useful for procurement and for a third-party partner like Shieldworkz.

Phase 0 - Executive alignment (0-2 weeks)
Objective: secure sponsorship, assign roles, define scope.
Outputs: executive brief, charter, project sponsors, initial risk tolerance statement, prioritized asset list.

Phase 1 - Discovery & gap assessment (2-6 weeks)
Objective: baseline maturity vs 62443 (controls, policies, network maps).
Outputs: asset inventory, network/segment map (logical + physical), control maturity matrix (fast scorecard), prioritized gap register mapped to 62443 parts and SLs.

Phase 2 - CSMS design & policy (4-8 weeks)
Objective: build the program that will stay in place for years; map to 62443-2-1.
Outputs: CSMS blueprint, governance & roles, vendor assurance policy, secure remote access policy, patch management policy (aligned to 62443-2-3 guidance).

Phase 3 - Risk assessment, zoning & target SL assignment (3-8 weeks)
Objective: partition your system into zones and conduits and assign SL-T targets.
Outputs: Zones & conduits diagram, SL-T matrix per zone/conduit, prioritized mitigation roadmap tied to business consequences.

Note: choose SL targets based on consequences (safety, production, long-lead assets), not just attacker sophistication.

Phase 4 - Technical design & remediation (variable)
Objective: implement controls to achieve SL-T (network segmentation, device hardening, authentication, monitoring).
Outputs: segmentation rules, firewall policies, identity & access implementation, secure configuration baseline for devices, secure network architecture.

Phase 5 - Verification, product assurance & secure SDLC (ongoing)
Objective: ensure controls meet the technical requirements (3-3 / 4-2) via testing and supplier evidence.
Outputs: test plans, compliance evidence, vendor product assurance reports (e.g., ISASecure CSA), secure-development evidence from suppliers (4-1).

Phase 6 - Operate, monitor & continually improve (continuous)
Objective: run the CSMS, monitor for deviations, conduct periodic assessments and re-assign SLs as needed.
Outputs: continuous monitoring, incident response playbooks, annual CSMS review, supplier re-assessments.

5. Compliance und Standards

NIST-Cybersicherheitsrahmen (CSF)

Fortgeschrittene Bedrohungsakteure: Staatsfinanzierte Akteure, kriminelle Gruppen und Hacktivisten zielen zunehmend auf OT-Systeme ab.

Fix: Shieldworkz uses a consequence-first assessment and maps controls against business impact.

ISA/IEC 62443

Fortgeschrittene Bedrohungsakteure: Staatsfinanzierte Akteure, kriminelle Gruppen und Hacktivisten zielen zunehmend auf OT-Systeme ab.

Fix: We always build the governance and evidence fabric to keep controls effective for years.

Over-segmentation or under-segmentation.

Problem: either introduces operational pain or leaves lateral pathways for attackers.

Fix: zone/conduit design workshops with operations to balance safety and security.

Blind reliance on vendor claims.

Problem: vendor marketing ≠ testable compliance.

Fix: require test evidence (ISASecure, third-party test reports), and run independent verification.

Trying to “bolt on” modern security to legacy PLCs.

Problem: brittle solutions create outages

Fix: defensive compensating controls, micro-segmentation, and change-control that prioritizes safety.

OT Systems is Critical

8. Shieldworkz IEC 62443 services - mapped to the standard parts

Shieldworkz offers a modular, delivery-grade set of services aligned directly to IEC 62443 so you can pick what you need or opt for full program delivery.

Governance & Strategy (Part 2 - CSMS)

62443-2-1 gap assessment and CSMS build (policy, roles, KPIs).

Vendor & third-party security program templates (procurement clauses mapped to 62443-2-4).

Risk & Architecture (Part 3 - system design)

Zone & conduit workshop + SL-T assignment.

Risk assessment / threat modelling aligned to 62443-3-2 and 3-3.

Network segmentation engineering and firewall rule build.

Product & Development Assurance (Part 4 - components)

Secure development lifecycle (SDL) process adoption for in-house devices (4-1).

Product evaluation & ISASecure mapping / readiness (support to obtain 4-2 evidence or CSA).

Verification & Operations

Technical verification tests (vulnerability scanning tailored to ICS, protocol checks).

Continuous monitoring (OT aware EDR/NDR tuning), detection rules, SIEM/OT integration.

Incident response playbooks & tabletop exercises focused on safety & process.

Managed Services & Ongoing Compliance

Managed detection & response for OT with SL-based playbooks.

Continuous compliance reporting: deliver evidence packages aligned to 62443 audits and procurement requests.

OT Systems is Critical

9. Outcomes, commercial value and KPIs - how to measure success

When a 62443 program is executed correctly the measurable benefits are real and tangible.

Operational KPIs

Mean time to detect (MTTD) OT incidents - target: decrease by 50% in first year.

Mean time to contain (MTTC) - measurable reduction via playbooks and segmentation.

Number of successful patch deployments for critical IACS components - increase %.

Business KPIs

Reduction in unplanned downtime minutes - translate to $ saved per incident.

Procurement cycle time - shorter when vendor evidence (e.g., ISASecure) is available.

Compliance KPIs

Percentage of zones with SL-T assigned and controls implemented.

Number of non-conformities raised in internal 62443 audits (trend down).

OT Systems is Critical

10. Tactical checklist - first 90 days (for asset owners)

Week 0-2

Appoint CSMS sponsor & clarify budget.

Identify initial scope (one plant, one region) for a pilot.

Week 2-6

Run a rapid discovery: asset inventory, network map, control owner list.

Perform a lightweight 62443 gap assessment (prelim scorecard).

Week 6-10

Conduct an SL-targeting workshop for high-risk zones (safety & production critical).

Create a prioritized remediation backlog with quick wins (authentication, segmentation, remote access controls).

Week 10-12

Deploy monitoring for the pilot zone and run a tabletop incident exercise.

Prepare procurement language for vendors: require secure SDLC evidence and product test reports.

OT Systems is Critical

11. Why Shieldworkz - what makes our approach different

Shieldworkz provides OT-native cybersecurity that protects operations without disrupting PLC timing or safety, combining OT engineering and security expertise with standards-first, risk-led practices and compliance support and resilience.

Rapid 62443 Readiness Assessment (2-4 weeks): discovery, scorecard, remediation plan.

Pilot - Zone & Conduit hardening (8-12 weeks): segmentation, authentication, monitoring.

CSMS Build & Governance (12-20 weeks): documentation, supplier policy, verification.

Product Assurance & Procurement (ongoing): vendor audits and ISASecure readiness.

Eine Demo anfordern

If you’re responsible for OT/ICS security, compliance, or procurement in Energy, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Pharma, Transportation or Water - book a free demo with Shieldworkz. We will provide a concise, custom 90-day roadmap that maps directly to IEC 62443 requirements and your business priorities.

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Wir entsprechen allen wichtigen globalen und regionalen Vorschriften, NIS2, IEC 62443, NIST-Cybersecurity-Framework, ISO 27001 und mehr, sodass Sie nicht mehrere Prüfungen jonglieren müssen.

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