12 Essential Security Elements for OT Procurement CISAs Checklist for Critical Infrastructure
Operational Technology (OT) environments face relentless, evolving cyber threats, from ransomware to nation‑state attacks, that exploit design weaknesses in industrial control systems. The recent “Secure by Demand” joint guide, published January 13, 2025, by CISA and 11 global partners, defines 12 priority security elements every buyer should demand when procuring OT products. Embedding these elements in procurement not only reduces immediate risk but also nudges manufacturers toward Secure by Design and ISA/IEC 62443 compliance, laying a robust foundation for decades to come.
Why This Matters
Rising Stakes in OT Cybersecurity
Targeted Product Attacks: Adversaries increasingly focus on product families rather than individual organizations, exploiting common flaws across multiple victims
Aging Infrastructure: Legacy OT systems often lack modern security features, weak authentication, insecure defaults, minimal logging, that attackers prey upon.
Benefits of Downloading Our Guide
Background:
“Secure by Demand” Collaboration
On January 13, 2025, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in collaboration with agencies such as NSA, FBI, EPA, TSA, and international partners (ASD’s ACSC, CCCS, DG CONNECT, BSI, NCSC‑NL, NCSC‑NZ, NCSC‑UK), released “Secure by Demand: Priority Considerations for Operational Technology Owners and Operators When Selecting Digital Products”.
This guide shifts cybersecurity upstream, into product design and procurement, by defining 12 essential security elements that elevate the baseline security of OT systems and create market‑driven demand for safer products.
The 12 Essential Security Elements
When evaluating OT products, ensure each manufacturer explicitly supports the following features out‑of‑the‑box (not as paid add‑ons):
1
Track, control and securely backup all configuration settings and engineering logic.
2
Native logging of all actions (config changes, security/safety events) in open‑standard formats.
3
Open Standards
Support for open, interoperable protocols to future‑proof encryption, integration and vendor flexibility.
4
Full autonomy over product maintenance and changes, minimizing vendor lock‑in.
5
Data Protection
Robust protections to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of operational data, both stored and in transit.
6
Secure by Default
Hardened out‑of‑the‑box settings: no default passwords, disabled legacy protocols, locked‑down interfaces.
7
Secure Communication
Certified, machine‑to‑machine authentication (e.g., digital certificates with fail‑loud behavior).
8
Safety‑Critical Controls
Resilience against malicious commands; proven safety‑control mechanisms with verifiable trust.
9
Strong Authentication
Role‑based access, phishing‑resistant MFA, and elimination of shared credentials.
10
Threat Modeling
Transparent, up‑to‑date threat models explaining potential compromise paths and mitigations.
11
Vulnerability Management
Formal disclosure program, SBOM delivery, free‑of‑charge patch support and clear support periods.
12
Upgrade & Patch Tooling
Easy, owner‑controlled patch/upgrade processes, including OS migrations before end‑of‑life.
Key Takeaways
Embed Security Early: Negotiating these elements at RFP stage drives “Secure by Design” into the heart of product roadmaps.
Mitigate Systemic Risks: Standardized logging, patching and data protection reduce attack surface and speed incident response.
Future‑Proof Investments: Open standards and upgrade tooling ensure your OT systems evolve securely over decades.
Vendor Accountability: Demanding transparent threat models and SBOMs forces manufacturers to own their security outcomes.
Next Steps: Secure Your Procurement Process
Download the Full Guide
Get our Shieldworkz‑branded PDF with in‑depth explanations, sample RFP language, and compliance mapping.
Request a Personalized Assessment
Let Shieldworkz’s OT cybersecurity experts evaluate your current procurement practices and recommend improvements.
Fill the Form Below
Connect with our team to schedule a demo of our ProcureSecure™ platform, designed to automate vendor scorecards and compliance checks.
Protect your critical infrastructure today.
Strengthen your OT procurement process by aligning with CISA’s 12 critical security components.
Download now or schedule a free consultation with Shieldworkz.
Download your copy today!
Operational Technology (OT) environments face relentless, evolving cyber threats, from ransomware to nation‑state attacks, that exploit design weaknesses in industrial control systems. The recent “Secure by Demand” joint guide, published January 13, 2025, by CISA and 11 global partners, defines 12 priority security elements every buyer should demand when procuring OT products. Embedding these elements in procurement not only reduces immediate risk but also nudges manufacturers toward Secure by Design and ISA/IEC 62443 compliance, laying a robust foundation for decades to come.
Why This Matters
Rising Stakes in OT Cybersecurity
Targeted Product Attacks: Adversaries increasingly focus on product families rather than individual organizations, exploiting common flaws across multiple victims
Aging Infrastructure: Legacy OT systems often lack modern security features, weak authentication, insecure defaults, minimal logging, that attackers prey upon.
Benefits of Downloading Our Guide
Background:
“Secure by Demand” Collaboration
On January 13, 2025, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in collaboration with agencies such as NSA, FBI, EPA, TSA, and international partners (ASD’s ACSC, CCCS, DG CONNECT, BSI, NCSC‑NL, NCSC‑NZ, NCSC‑UK), released “Secure by Demand: Priority Considerations for Operational Technology Owners and Operators When Selecting Digital Products”.
This guide shifts cybersecurity upstream, into product design and procurement, by defining 12 essential security elements that elevate the baseline security of OT systems and create market‑driven demand for safer products.
The 12 Essential Security Elements
When evaluating OT products, ensure each manufacturer explicitly supports the following features out‑of‑the‑box (not as paid add‑ons):
1
Track, control and securely backup all configuration settings and engineering logic.
2
Native logging of all actions (config changes, security/safety events) in open‑standard formats.
3
Open Standards
Support for open, interoperable protocols to future‑proof encryption, integration and vendor flexibility.
4
Full autonomy over product maintenance and changes, minimizing vendor lock‑in.
5
Data Protection
Robust protections to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of operational data, both stored and in transit.
6
Secure by Default
Hardened out‑of‑the‑box settings: no default passwords, disabled legacy protocols, locked‑down interfaces.
7
Secure Communication
Certified, machine‑to‑machine authentication (e.g., digital certificates with fail‑loud behavior).
8
Safety‑Critical Controls
Resilience against malicious commands; proven safety‑control mechanisms with verifiable trust.
9
Strong Authentication
Role‑based access, phishing‑resistant MFA, and elimination of shared credentials.
10
Threat Modeling
Transparent, up‑to‑date threat models explaining potential compromise paths and mitigations.
11
Vulnerability Management
Formal disclosure program, SBOM delivery, free‑of‑charge patch support and clear support periods.
12
Upgrade & Patch Tooling
Easy, owner‑controlled patch/upgrade processes, including OS migrations before end‑of‑life.
Key Takeaways
Embed Security Early: Negotiating these elements at RFP stage drives “Secure by Design” into the heart of product roadmaps.
Mitigate Systemic Risks: Standardized logging, patching and data protection reduce attack surface and speed incident response.
Future‑Proof Investments: Open standards and upgrade tooling ensure your OT systems evolve securely over decades.
Vendor Accountability: Demanding transparent threat models and SBOMs forces manufacturers to own their security outcomes.
Next Steps: Secure Your Procurement Process
Download the Full Guide
Get our Shieldworkz‑branded PDF with in‑depth explanations, sample RFP language, and compliance mapping.
Request a Personalized Assessment
Let Shieldworkz’s OT cybersecurity experts evaluate your current procurement practices and recommend improvements.
Fill the Form Below
Connect with our team to schedule a demo of our ProcureSecure™ platform, designed to automate vendor scorecards and compliance checks.
Protect your critical infrastructure today.
Strengthen your OT procurement process by aligning with CISA’s 12 critical security components.
Download now or schedule a free consultation with Shieldworkz.
Download your copy today!
Operational Technology (OT) environments face relentless, evolving cyber threats, from ransomware to nation‑state attacks, that exploit design weaknesses in industrial control systems. The recent “Secure by Demand” joint guide, published January 13, 2025, by CISA and 11 global partners, defines 12 priority security elements every buyer should demand when procuring OT products. Embedding these elements in procurement not only reduces immediate risk but also nudges manufacturers toward Secure by Design and ISA/IEC 62443 compliance, laying a robust foundation for decades to come.
Why This Matters
Rising Stakes in OT Cybersecurity
Targeted Product Attacks: Adversaries increasingly focus on product families rather than individual organizations, exploiting common flaws across multiple victims
Aging Infrastructure: Legacy OT systems often lack modern security features, weak authentication, insecure defaults, minimal logging, that attackers prey upon.
Benefits of Downloading Our Guide
Background:
“Secure by Demand” Collaboration
On January 13, 2025, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in collaboration with agencies such as NSA, FBI, EPA, TSA, and international partners (ASD’s ACSC, CCCS, DG CONNECT, BSI, NCSC‑NL, NCSC‑NZ, NCSC‑UK), released “Secure by Demand: Priority Considerations for Operational Technology Owners and Operators When Selecting Digital Products”.
This guide shifts cybersecurity upstream, into product design and procurement, by defining 12 essential security elements that elevate the baseline security of OT systems and create market‑driven demand for safer products.
The 12 Essential Security Elements
When evaluating OT products, ensure each manufacturer explicitly supports the following features out‑of‑the‑box (not as paid add‑ons):
1
Track, control and securely backup all configuration settings and engineering logic.
2
Native logging of all actions (config changes, security/safety events) in open‑standard formats.
3
Open Standards
Support for open, interoperable protocols to future‑proof encryption, integration and vendor flexibility.
4
Full autonomy over product maintenance and changes, minimizing vendor lock‑in.
5
Data Protection
Robust protections to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of operational data, both stored and in transit.
6
Secure by Default
Hardened out‑of‑the‑box settings: no default passwords, disabled legacy protocols, locked‑down interfaces.
7
Secure Communication
Certified, machine‑to‑machine authentication (e.g., digital certificates with fail‑loud behavior).
8
Safety‑Critical Controls
Resilience against malicious commands; proven safety‑control mechanisms with verifiable trust.
9
Strong Authentication
Role‑based access, phishing‑resistant MFA, and elimination of shared credentials.
10
Threat Modeling
Transparent, up‑to‑date threat models explaining potential compromise paths and mitigations.
11
Vulnerability Management
Formal disclosure program, SBOM delivery, free‑of‑charge patch support and clear support periods.
12
Upgrade & Patch Tooling
Easy, owner‑controlled patch/upgrade processes, including OS migrations before end‑of‑life.
Key Takeaways
Embed Security Early: Negotiating these elements at RFP stage drives “Secure by Design” into the heart of product roadmaps.
Mitigate Systemic Risks: Standardized logging, patching and data protection reduce attack surface and speed incident response.
Future‑Proof Investments: Open standards and upgrade tooling ensure your OT systems evolve securely over decades.
Vendor Accountability: Demanding transparent threat models and SBOMs forces manufacturers to own their security outcomes.
Next Steps: Secure Your Procurement Process
Download the Full Guide
Get our Shieldworkz‑branded PDF with in‑depth explanations, sample RFP language, and compliance mapping.
Request a Personalized Assessment
Let Shieldworkz’s OT cybersecurity experts evaluate your current procurement practices and recommend improvements.
Fill the Form Below
Connect with our team to schedule a demo of our ProcureSecure™ platform, designed to automate vendor scorecards and compliance checks.
Protect your critical infrastructure today.
Strengthen your OT procurement process by aligning with CISA’s 12 critical security components.
Download now or schedule a free consultation with Shieldworkz.