In this section of the course, we are going
to discuss Specialized System Security.
The specialized system security section
of the course focuses on domain 3, Security Engineering,
specifically objective 3.5, which states that given a set
of requirements, you must be able to secure specialized
and legacy systems against threats.
Securing specialized systems requires addressing the
complexities of older technologies,
particularly in environments
where operational technology is essential.
Operational technology are the hardware
and software systems that monitor
and control physical processes in industries
like manufacturing, utilities, and transportation.
Specialized systems, including operational technology,
present unique challenges due to their age
and critical roles.
Managing specialized systems also involves implementing
strong data handling procedures
and ensuring compliance with regulatory standard.
Both commercial and government sectors must overcome
these challenges to maintain the security, reliability,
and resilience of their vital systems.
As we go through this section,
we will cover many topics related
to specialized system security,
including Specialized Systems, Operational Technology,
Characteristics of Specialized
and Legacy Systems, Security Practices, Data Management,
Compliance and Regulatory Considerations,
Critical Services, Challenges, and Commercial
and Government Challenges.
First, we will look at Specialized Systems.
Specialized Systems are unique purpose-built technologies
such as systems on a chip, embedded systems,
Internet of Things devices, and wireless technologies.
Each of these specialized systems requires
tailored security measures
due to their specific functions and constraints.
System-on-a-Chip technology integrates
all necessary electronic components
into a single chip, requiring security
to be embedded at the hardware level
to protect against physical and cyber threats.
Embedded systems are designed
to perform specific functions within larger devices
and must be securely configured
to prevent unauthorized access
and ensure reliable operation.
Embedded systems include automotive control systems
and smart home devices.
Internet of Things, or IoT devices are widely deployed
and introduced significant security challenges due
to potential vulnerabilities in communication channels
and their extensive connectivity.
Wireless technologies, including radio frequency
or RF, play a crucial role in connecting
Internet of Things devices to the network
and require strong encryption
and security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
For example, in a connected automotive system,
the System-on-a-Chip must be designed
to secure the vehicle's critical functions,
such as engine control and braking,
ensuring they cannot be compromised by external threats.
Embedded systems within the vehicle,
like those managing infotainment
or navigation must be hardened
to prevent unauthorized access.
Internet of Things devices integrated
into the vehicle's ecosystem need protection
against potential breaches
while RF communications used for vehicle to vehicle
or vehicle to infrastructure communication must be encrypted
to maintain the security
and safety of the vehicle's operation.
Next, we will explore operational technology.
Operational technology is the hardware
and software that is often part
of a critical infrastructure.
Operational technology monitors
and controls the physical processes
within the infrastructure.
Operational Technology systems require
robust security measures to protect against disruptions
and unauthorized access
because of the critical processing
that they monitor and control.
Operational technology examples include heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning,
or HVAC systems, industrial control systems
and supervisory control and data acquisition systems.
HVAC systems must be secured to prevent tampering
that could lead to unsafe environmental conditions
for persons or equipment.
Industrial control systems
or ICS manage industrial processes
and are highly vulnerable to cyber threats,
if not properly secured.
Industrial control systems control essential functions
in manufacturing and utilities.
Supervisory control and data acquisition
or SCADA systems are a subset
of industrial control systems used for remote monitoring
and control of infrastructure like power plants
and water treatment facilities.
In practice, securing an industrial control system
that manages an HVAC system
in a large facility would require implementing safeguards
within the supervisory control
and data acquisition network to ensure
that the system remains operational
and protected from cyber attack.
After that, we will look at characteristics
of specialized and legacy system.
The characteristics of specialized
and legacy systems include being obsolete, unsupported,
unsecurable, or highly constrained.
These attributes make them challenging
to protect against modern threats.
Obsolete systems are outdated
and may lack the latest security features,
making them vulnerable to attacks
that exploit known weaknesses.
Unsupported systems no longer receive security updates
or patches increasing the risk of exploitation by attackers
who target these unpatched vulnerabilities.
Unsecurable systems are those that due to design limitations
or age cannot be adequately protected
with current security measures.
Highly constrained systems have limited processing power,
memory, or connectivity, restricting their implementation
of standard security protocol.
Bringing these concepts together, consider an organization
that relies on an unsupported,
highly constrained embedded system
in a critical infrastructure.
This organization would face
significant security challenges
since their system cannot be easily patched or secured.
They would need to employ compensating controls
such as network segmentation
or specialized monitoring to mitigate risks.
Next, we will explore security practices.
Security practices involve implementing strategies
such as segmentation, hardening,
and monitoring to protect specialized systems
from potential threats.
Segmentation divides a network
into smaller isolated segments
to limit the spread of attacks
and reduce the exposure of critical systems
to unauthorized access.
Hardening is the process of securing a system
by reducing its attack surface.
Hardening techniques include disabling
unnecessary services, applying security patches,
and configuring security settings.
Monitoring is the continuous observation of system activity
to detect and respond
to potential security incidents in real time.
When applied to a specialized industrial control system,
network segmentation might be used
to isolate critical components from the broader network.
Hardening measures could be implemented
to secure the system's configuration
and continuous monitoring could ensure that any anomalies
or suspicious activities are
promptly detected and addressed.
Following that, we will look at data management.
Data management involves organizing, protecting,
and analyzing data to ensure its integrity, confidentiality,
and availability within specialized systems.
Data management concepts include aggregation
and data analytics.
Aggregation refers to the process of collecting
and combining data from various sources
to create a single comprehensive data set
that can be analyzed for patterns, trends, or anomalies.
Data analytics involves examining aggregated data
to identify insights, detect potential security threats,
and inform decision making processes.
For example, in a specialized healthcare system,
data from various medical devices may be aggregated into a
central database where data analytics can be used to monitor
for unusual patterns that could indicate a security breach
or system malfunction.
Then we will explore compliance
and regulatory considerations.
Compliance and regulatory considerations include adhering
to industry specific laws, standards,
and guidelines to ensure that systems operate safely,
securely, and within legal requirements.
Regulatory compliance requires meeting specific legal
and industry standards,
such as the General Data Protection Regulation
or GDPR for data protection
or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
or HIPAA for healthcare systems.
Next, environmental considerations involve ensuring
that specialized systems operate securely
within their physical environment.
This means ensuring factors like temperature, humidity,
or electromagnetic interference
that could impact system performance
and safety are maintained.
Finally, safety compliance focuses on ensuring
that systems are designed
and operated in a way that protects users, operators,
and the public from harm.
Safety compliance often requires adherence
to standards like ISO 26262 for automotive safety,
or IEC 61508 for functional safety
and industrial systems.
In practice concerning a medical device system,
regulatory compliance might involve meeting American food
and drug administration requirements,
while environmental considerations address the device's
operation in various clinical settings.
And finally, safety compliance ensures
that the device does not pose any risk to patients
or healthcare providers.
Next, we will explore Critical Services Challenges.
Critical Services Challenges
in specialized system security involve protecting
essential infrastructure sectors
such as utilities, transportation,
and healthcare from disruptions
and threats that could have significant societal impact.
Un the Utilities sector,
security challenges include safeguarding power grids
and water systems from cyber attacks
that could cause widespread outages or contamination.
In transportation, securing systems like rail networks,
air traffic control,
and public transit against cyber threats is crucial
to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of passengers.
In healthcare, the security of medical devices, patient data
and hospital networks is paramount
to protect patient privacy
and ensure uninterrupted delivery of care.
Finally, we will look at commercial
and government challenges.
Commercial and government challenges include securing
sensitive operations and data
in sectors like manufacturing, finance,
and government, or defense
against sophisticated threats and vulnerabilities.
In manufacturing, protecting industrial control systems
and intellectual property from cyber attack helps
to maintain operational continuity
and competitive advantage.
In the Financial Sector,
challenges in securing transaction systems, customer data,
and ensuring regulatory compliance protect against fraud
and data breaches.
In the Government and Defense Sector,
classified information, critical infrastructure
and military operations must be safe
from state sponsored cyber attack and espionage.
For example, a breach in a
government defense system could lead
to the theft of classified military information,
putting service members at risk,
while an attack on a financial institution could result
in a massive financial loss and erosion of public trust.
Both of these scenarios underscore the importance
of tailored security strategies in each sector.
To finish things off, we'll take a short quiz to see
what you learned during this section of the course,
and we will review each of those quiz questions fully
to ensure that you can explain
why the right answers were right
and the wrong answers were wrong.
So let's get ready to dive into Specialized System Security
in this section of the course.