Zero Trust Industrial Control System Security Credentials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial control systems (ICS) face increased vulnerability due to expanded connectivity, outpacing existing cybersecurity solutions, and are exposed to advanced cyber threats as they were initially designed for isolated, trusted domains, lacking effective measures to secure communications and prevent unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A zero trust industrial control system is implemented, featuring a security credential source and implementer that generate and provision unique security credentials to industrial elements, ensuring mutual authentication and secure communication between devices, thereby preventing unauthorized access and promoting secure network operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If industrial control systems are designed for isolated, trusted domains, then system simplicity and ease of operation are improved, but security against cyber threats deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication actions by establishing security credentials and mutual authentication mechanisms before any industrial communication occurs. This ensures that security is built-in from the start rather than added as an afterthought, resolving the contradiction by maintaining ease of operation while pre-establishing security defenses against cyber threats
2Productivity
If expanded connectivity is implemented in industrial control systems, then productivity and adaptability are improved, but vulnerability to cyber threats worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces security credentials and mutual authentication mechanisms as intermediaries between connected industrial devices. These intermediaries enable expanded connectivity and productivity while filtering out cyber threats, thus resolving the contradiction by allowing communication expansion without proportionally increasing vulnerability
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional cybersecurity solutions are applied to industrial control systems, then security measures are improved, but system complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service security where industrial devices automatically perform mutual authentication using pre-established security credentials. This eliminates the need for complex external cybersecurity infrastructure, resolving the contradiction by providing robust security measures while maintaining system simplicity through automated peer-to-peer verification
Data Source
AI summary
A zero trust industrial control system is disclosed herein. The industrial control system includes a plurality of industrial elements (e.g., modules, cables) which are provisioned during manufacture with their own unique security credentials. A key management entity of the zero trust industrial control system monitors and manages the security credentials of the industrial elements starting from the time they are manufactured up to and during their implementation within the industrial control system for promoting security of the industrial control system. An authentication process, based upon the security credentials, for authenticating the industrial elements being implemented in the industrial control system is performed for promoting security of the industrial control system. In one or more implementations, all industrial elements of the zero trust industrial control system are provisioned with the security credentials for providing security at multiple (e.g., all) levels of the system.