Digitization is necessary in modern industry, but as more systems come online, the number of threats from outside attackers increases. Enhanced cybersecurity is essential to keep manufacturing and industrial systems operational, efficient and profitable. How can you protect your systems if you don’t know where they are most vulnerable? How do you prevent intrusion if you don’t know the potential attack vectors?
Penetration (pen) testing can reveal vulnerabilities and weaknesses in internal networks, linked devices and software applications, including proprietary tools and IT infrastructure. The goal is to mimic an actual attack so software engineers and security experts can shore up any discovered vulnerabilities. It’s a process that closes gaps and seals leaks.
The Advantages of Pen Testing
Penetration testing gives decision-makers and systems engineers the insights they need and full visibility to better protect a network from impending danger. It safeguards the systems and any data they interact with, store, create or manage, including client or customer data.
Proper testing can help build and deploy a vulnerability management program, which effectively automates the process and can only be done after the network is better understood. In one survey, 72% of respondents said pen testing had prevented a breach at their organizations.
Testing can also help avoid a loss of system control and help plan future updates or equipment upgrades. If you can identify what’s out of date on the software front, you know what to replace first. Moreover, pen testing can significantly assist with compliance and regulatory applications.
Physical pen testing is similar but usually involves interacting with equipment, systems and access points. It includes lock picking to gain entry to a secure server room or using social engineering to phish and vet employees.
Best Practices for Pen Testing In Manufacturing
The history of penetration testing is long and varied, but it has become a tried-and-true method for discovering and dealing with network and infrastructure vulnerabilities across many industries.
Some excellent best practices that have been established over the years include the following.
1. Define the Scope
Defining the scope of the test enables you to set boundaries and conditions that are important for strengthening the tests themselves. For example, you should understand what environments you’re testing, where attacks may originate and what assets are required to simulate these events. Then you’ll be better prepared to move forward with a solution.
2. Establish a Clear Objective
What is the goal of the test? Unfortunately, you can’t test everything at once — you need a clear focus. This helps streamline the testing process and the remediation that may follow. Are you trying to secure a specific point of access? Would you rather focus on the infrastructure involved, such as network equipment, controls and administrative software?
Don’t forget about physical penetration testing. Many organizations are turning from traditional guards to alternatives like solar-powered surveillance systems, AI-powered video analytics and drones, all of which should be tested. It may be necessary to come up with unique testing protocols.
Additional considerations include IIoT, OT and IT solutions. It’s vital to understand vulnerabilities in the network hardware and infrastructure, as well as the controls and software solutions at play.
3. Explore the Budget
Penetration testing costs vary. It’s important to establish a budget before each test, and not just monetary. Set time constraints, manage additional resources and assets, and consider the objectives you planned previously. This helps you keep costs under control and know where you should allocate resources.
4. Choose the Testing Method
From methodologies like MITRE ATT&CK to Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), there are several common penetration testing frameworks. Consider the option that aligns with your current objectives and is also relevant to the testing environment. You should also choose the method that best aligns with real-world situations that are realistically possible.
5. Consider Automatic Scanning Support
Automatic vulnerability scanning tools can save you a lot of time, labor and resources. Outsourcing may help. One study found a 31% increase in pentest engagements in 2023 compared to the year before, and many of these services rely on AI to help scan for issues. In fact, the demand for AI is outpacing security teams’ abilities to keep up.
6. Prepare the Testing Environment
Understand authorizations and permissions, consider laws or regulations that apply, and ensure all team members and parties are informed, educated and prepared. Be sure to establish lines of action — who’s going to review and address test results, for example? It’s also a good time to develop clear levels of reactivity. A high-risk vulnerability would require fast, responsive action versus something low-lift. They’re both important, but the first one may take significantly more resources to address.
7. Assess the Results
Post-testing, spend time reviewing the results with the necessary teams and use incident response protocols to address the problem. Identify the issue or vulnerability, mitigate the threat, recover from it and consider retesting.
8. Plan and Implement Remediation
While this may require having a highly skilled team in place beforehand, you’ll want to address the root cause of any problem or vulnerability. Speedy response times are necessary. Have a clearly defined timeline to address the vulnerabilities. The farther out the fix, the greater the risk.
Always document any issues discovered and fixes deployed. Explore potential countermeasures for exact scenarios or similar events.
Taking Manufacturing Pen Testing Seriously
Penetration testing for infrastructure and network devices is not something that many manufacturers or administrators consider, at least not as often as they should. Outwardly, it would appear to be an IT and systems-focused solution. However, more modern industrial systems are coming online, with an emphasis on digital, intelligent solutions at the helm. The risks are going to grow beyond what they’ve been in the past.
Penetration testing is a reliable, responsive way to deal with potential vulnerabilities. It uncovers and patches holes and builds security redundancies to mitigate even some of the most basic threats to keep your plant safe from intrusion and operating safely and securely.
