Nozomi Networks to Showcase OT and IoT Security Solutions

Tell us about the cybersecurity trends for 2023.

In 2023, we can expect:

Hybrid threat tactics – the lines that once categorized diverse types of threat actors have blurred, which could significantly change the threat actor landscape. For example, November’s Continental ransomware attack was launched by hacktivists who used nation-state tactics to cause physical disruption to railroads. Meanwhile, nation-state threat actors have been leveraging cyber-criminal tactics, such as ransomware, to cause disruption in critical environments. It will become increasingly difficult to categorize threat groups based on TTPs and motives, which have aided in attribution efforts in the past.

Quantum cybersecurity threats – as threat actors use the “store now, decrypt later” (SNDL) technique in preparation for quantum decryption, governments are taking steps to defend against this future threat. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released its post-quantum cryptography initiative on July 6, 2022, to prepare and safeguard critical infrastructure companies during this transition. As CISA rolls out this guidance, more companies will shift their focus to safeguarding their data now to reduce the risks of quantum decryption later.

The medical device exploits – many medical devices are susceptible to cyberattacks due to the fact that the legacy systems they are using are no longer being manufactured and/or the software no longer supported. Threat actors use scanners and other types of tools to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in these devices and perform manipulative tactics or even launch cyberattacks. Apart from using scanners to exploit vulnerabilities, threat actors can access medical systems used to aggregate device data for broader analysis and monitoring. This manipulation could lead to malfunctions, misreadings, or even overdoses in the automatic release of medication.

Cyber insurance inflection point – while cyber insurance is an important part of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, cybercriminals are conducting reconnaissance on cyber insurance policies and tailoring their ransom requests to match the amount of a cyber insurance payout. This could either cause premiums to significantly increase, or even dry out cyber insurance resources, making it more difficult to file serious claims and receive payouts. Cyber insurance is not a cure for cyberattacks; in fact, it could motivate cybercriminals. Companies should invest in cyber prevention, protection, and remediation as a first line of defense.

What is the theme of your participation at GISEC 2023?

We will demonstrate how our extensive suite of leading OT and IoT security solutions can be leveraged to protect critical infrastructure, industrial networks, and government organizations from cyber threats, all while maximizing operational resilience.

Which products and solutions will you be showcasing at GISEC 2023?

We will be showcasing our entire suite of IT, OT, and IoT solutions, but this year, we are extremely excited to introduce the newest member of our product portfolio, Nozomi Arc, to our GISEC lineup. Nozomi Arc is our first endpoint security sensor for OT that complements Guardian and Vantage deployments with more visibility into a host’s attack surfaces and anomalies, to give a more detailed view of your complete OT/ICS environment. It improves operational resiliency by significantly extending visibility across endpoint attack surfaces, dramatically reducing security threats, and speeding deployments across all assets and sites.

How are you equipped to help companies overcome digital security and privacy challenges?

Often, cybersecurity is an afterthought as traditional cybersecurity solutions can’t keep pace with the growing number of smart devices and vast volumes of sensitive data that are a part of or connected to critical infrastructure. As an example, many of the IoT and OT devices in municipal infrastructure lack even basic cybersecurity features and are essentially not visible to traditional IT cybersecurity programs.

Furthermore, growing compliance requirements and competing compliance frameworks increase pressure to achieve sound technology governance. Failing to protect these environments can result in identity theft, consumer data breach, delay or failure of critical services such as power or transportation, costly ransomware attacks, and safety risks such as compromised water supplies. Protecting customer data and providing reliable city services is paramount in the face of the cyber threats smart cities must confront.

These types of environments need help in various phases of the security lifecycle across all their services and deployments. Bringing these together in a comprehensive platform can deliver new levels of efficiency and automation to cybersecurity teams. Nozomi Networks breakdown the incident lifecycle into three phases that align with various admin tasks and security processes: Anticipate, Diagnose, and Respond.