OT Security Policy Management for Enterprise-Wide Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing new or modifying security policies across multiple operational technology (OT) networks within an enterprise is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, often taking weeks, months, or even years.
Innovation Solution
An enterprise-level security policy management tool that allows for the receipt of inputs defining security policies via a graphical user interface (GUI), generates policies based on these inputs, and transmits them to computing devices for enforcement across OT networks, facilitating centralized management and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If security policies are manually created and implemented within OT networks by network administrators, then security policies can be enforced at the network level, but the process becomes time-consuming and resource-intensive, taking weeks, months, or even years to implement across multiple networks
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments security policy management into hierarchical levels: enterprise-level centralized management and local-level distributed enforcement. The enterprise-level tool creates and stores security policies in a centralized database, while local instantiations at individual OT networks enforce these policies locally. This segmentation allows rapid centralized policy creation while maintaining reliable local enforcement across multiple distributed networks simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary security policy management tool that acts as a mediator between network administrators and OT networks. This tool provides a user-friendly interface for creating security policies without requiring deep technical knowledge of OT network configurations. The intermediary translates high-level security requirements into enforceable policy rules, dramatically reducing implementation time while ensuring proper enforcement.
2Reliability
If security policies are manually implemented across multiple OT networks, then comprehensive security coverage can be achieved, but the process requires significant human resources and expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The enterprise-level security policy management tool provides universal functionality for creating, storing, and distributing security policies across multiple OT networks through a single interface. The system can manage policies for diverse OT networks (manufacturing, energy, water treatment, etc.) using the same toolset, eliminating the need for separate manual configuration processes for each network and reducing the expertise required at individual sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates reusable security policy templates at the enterprise level that can be copied and distributed to multiple OT networks. Once a security policy is created and validated at one location, it can be replicated across numerous other networks with consistent enforcement parameters, dramatically reducing the time and expertise needed while maintaining comprehensive security coverage across the entire enterprise.
3Adaptability or versatility
If security policies are created and enforced at individual OT network levels, then local security needs can be addressed, but consistent policy management across the enterprise becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds an enterprise-level dimension to security policy management, creating a two-dimensional hierarchy: enterprise-level centralized policy creation and local-level distributed enforcement. This dimensional change allows consistent policy templates to be created at the enterprise level while still allowing local customization through parameter adjustment at individual networks, without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring security policy templates at the enterprise level before deployment to individual OT networks. These pre-configured templates include best practices and standardized security requirements, allowing local networks to quickly adapt and customize policies for their specific needs without starting from scratch, thereby simplifying local implementation while maintaining enterprise-wide consistency.
Data Source
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AI summary
An enterprise-level security policy management tool receives, via a graphical user interface (GUI), inputs defining a security policy configured to be deployed within an enterprise that operates one or more operational technology (OT) networks, generates the security policy based on the inputs, and transmits the security policy to one or more computing devices running respective other instantiations of the enterprise-level security policy management tool, wherein the respective other instantiations of the enterprise-level security policy management tool are configured to facilitate enforcement of the security policy within the one or more OT networks operated by the enterprise.