OT Network Panic Button for Rapid Attack Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated IT and OT networks face challenges in securing legacy OT devices, which are vulnerable due to lack of encryption and inadequate visibility across the attack surface, leading to complex security management and difficulty in isolating OT networks during malicious attacks.
Innovation Solution
A panic button system configured outside the network gateway, utilizing 2-factor MFA for authorization, allows for quick quarantine of OT networks from IT networks, enabling automated actions to disconnect and isolate critical devices during real-time malicious attacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If IT and OT networks are kept separate to simplify security management, then security management complexity is reduced, but network visibility and coordinated response capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges IT and OT network security management into a unified system with a single pane of glass interface. The common security platform consolidates visibility across both networks, allowing security teams to monitor and respond to threats across the entire attack surface without managing separate systems, thus reducing management complexity while maintaining full visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The security platform is designed with universal functionality that works across both IT and OT networks simultaneously. It provides unified threat detection, response, and management capabilities that adapt to different network types, eliminating the need for separate security systems while maintaining comprehensive visibility and coordinated response.
2Adaptability or versatility
If legacy OT devices are connected to IP networks to enable digital innovation, then operational capability and connectivity are improved, but vulnerability to network-based threats increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an OT network appliance as an intermediary device that sits between legacy OT devices and the IP network. This appliance provides protocol translation, encryption, and security functions that allow OT devices to connect to IP networks for digital innovation while protecting them from network-based threats through automated security policies and threat isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements preliminary security measures by deploying the OT network appliance with pre-configured security policies before OT devices connect to the IP network. Automated threat detection and isolation mechanisms are activated in advance to prevent vulnerabilities from being exploited, allowing connectivity while preemptively blocking threats.
3Reliability
If multiple point solutions are deployed to address specific security issues, then targeted security coverage is improved, but system complexity and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple point solutions into a single common security platform that provides unified management across IT and OT networks. The platform maintains specialized security capabilities for different threat types while presenting a single interface for management, reducing system complexity while preserving targeted security coverage through integrated threat response.
4Reliability
If rapid isolation of OT networks is implemented during attacks, then threat containment is improved, but risk of false positives and operational disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the security platform continuously monitors network traffic and threat indicators before initiating isolation actions. Automated threat verification processes provide feedback to confirm actual threats before quarantine, reducing false positives. The system also provides feedback loops for rapid reconnection once threats are cleared, minimizing operational disruption while maintaining effective threat containment.
Data Source
AI summary
A panic button is configured and disposed outside a network gateway, managing integrated OT network devices and IT devices, for access by a user. Responsive to physical activation of the panic button, a 2 factor MFA authorizes the action with an authorized user. Upon authorization, the OT network devices are quarantined from the IT network devices to prevent malicious actions.