OT Network Monitoring for Rule-Based Data Filtering

A monitoring device is introduced as an intermediary component between the network and OT devices. This monitoring device intercepts data packets, applies security rules to filter undesirable data, and selectively forwards approved data to OT devices. The intermediary approach blocks harmful data while maintaining legitimate communication flows, thus improving system safety without significantly compromising communication efficiency.

The monitoring system is segmented into distinct functional modules: a receiving interface for data packets, an identification module for OT devices, a rule retrieval module, and a selective forwarding module. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall system easier to manage, maintain, and update without excessive complexity.

Security rules are pre-configured and stored in the monitoring device before data filtering operations begin. The monitoring device retrieves these pre-established rules to quickly evaluate incoming data packets against known security criteria. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex real-time analysis during data filtering, thereby reducing processing latency while maintaining operation safety.