OT Cybersecurity Posture Scoring for Real-Time Asset Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cybersecurity scoring systems are not suitable for critical infrastructure in operation technology environments, leading to overlooked security configurations and increased attack surfaces, with no effective automated solutions for real-time cybersecurity posture analysis and asset validation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for categorizing OT infrastructure devices into levels based on exposure, identifying CVEs using BoM, assigning severity values, calculating cybersecurity posture scores, and prioritizing remediation using machine learning to enhance cybersecurity posture and validate assets in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing cybersecurity scoring systems are used for critical infrastructure, then general cybersecurity assessment is possible, but they are not suitable for operation technology environments leading to overlooked security configurations and increased attack surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a specialized cybersecurity scoring system tailored specifically for OT environments rather than using generic scoring systems. It implements OT-specific device categorization into five levels based on network exposure, OT-specific parameter weighting, and OT-specific vulnerability identification, ensuring the scoring system's quality and accuracy match the unique requirements of operational technology infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used in cybersecurity scoring from generic IT-focused metrics to OT-specific parameters. It introduces OT-specific device levels (0-4) based on network exposure, OT-specific vulnerability databases, and customized severity calculations that reflect OT operational contexts, making the scoring system adaptable to OT environments while maintaining reliability.
2Measurement precision
If manual security configuration review is performed, then detailed analysis is possible, but it is time-consuming and cannot provide real-time cybersecurity posture analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated cybersecurity scoring system that performs self-assessment without requiring manual security configuration reviews. The system automatically collects device inventory data, identifies vulnerabilities using OT-specific databases, calculates security scores based on predefined OT parameters, and generates posture assessments autonomously, eliminating time-consuming manual processes while maintaining detailed analysis capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual review process with an automated computational system. It uses automated vulnerability scanning, algorithmic score calculation based on OT-specific weightings, and automated report generation, substituting human manual analysis with machine-based processes that provide both precision and speed in cybersecurity posture assessment.
3Reliability
If comprehensive vulnerability scanning is performed across all devices, then complete security assessment is achieved, but it increases system complexity and computational requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the OT infrastructure into five distinct device levels (0-4) based on network exposure and criticality. This segmentation allows the vulnerability scanning and scoring process to focus on specific device categories with appropriate depth, rather than uniformly scanning all devices. Each level receives tailored assessment based on its exposure characteristics, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive vulnerability detection through targeted approaches.
4Reliability
If security remediation is applied to all identified vulnerabilities, then maximum security posture improvement is achieved, but it requires significant resources and may disrupt OT operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-driven remediation prioritization system that uses the calculated cybersecurity scores to guide remediation efforts. The system continuously monitors security posture, identifies the most critical vulnerabilities based on OT-specific risk calculations, and prioritizes remediation actions accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that remediation resources are allocated to actions that provide maximum security improvement while minimizing disruption to OT operations, rather than uniformly addressing all vulnerabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for analyzing cybersecurity posture for an OT infrastructure includes categorizing a plurality of devices of one or more plants into levels, based on an exposure of each device to a communication network, identifying CVEs of components of the plurality of devices; assigning a severity value to the one or more CVEs of components and determining a plant cybersecurity posture score for the one or more plants; computing a critical infrastructure cybersecurity posture score for the OT infrastructure; and applying remediation to one or more vulnerable components based on a prioritization sequence.