The Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC) has released its Endpoint Security Best Practices whitepaper aimed at simplifying internet of things (IoT) security.
IoT endpoints include ‘things’ like embedded medical devices; electronic control units; vehicle control systems, communication infrastructure, gateways; and edge devices like sensors, actuators, pumps, flow meters, controllers and drives in industrial systems.
Historically, IoT devices have been riddled with poor security-by-design, default and hard-coded passwords, and improper default configurations for internet access. To help these equipment manufacturers, critical infrastructure operators, and integrators get on the right path to proper security, this whitepaper was developed as a reference for implementing countermeasures and controls to ensure the safety, security, and reliability of IoT endpoint devices.
The whitepaper details one of the six essential building blocks from the IIC Industrial Internet Security Framework (IISF): endpoint protection, outlining how countermeasures or controls, through risk modeling and threat analysis, can be applied to achieve a particular security level (basic, enhanced or critical).The guidance also used key information about endpoint device security from industrial guidance and compliance frameworks, such as NIST 800-53.
The whitepapers main focus is on improving security for new endpoints. However, according to the IIC, the guidelines can be applied to legacy endpoints by employing gateways, network security, and security monitoring.
IIC member Andrea Carcano claimes,” “Effective cybersecurity is critical to the long-term safety of the industrial internet. As a member, we support the IIC’s work and are glad to see them expand their guidance beyond their Industrial Internet Security Framework to provide specific, practical recommendation for endpoints by security level. This includes real-time and continuous monitoring of endpoints and effective policy and activity dashboards that can deliver much-needed visibility and control.”
NNT Change Tracker uses a continuous monitoring approach to provide integrity verification in real-time, providing audit trail evidence and alerts in line with 800-53.
Speak to a consultant to help you in your NIST 800-53 compliance program today!
Read this article on InfoSecurity Magazine
Read the Endpoint Security Best Practices whitepaper here