Protect Your Industrial Control Systems

ABB ICS Cyber Security Reference Architecture

Your Industrial Control Systems Are Under Attack

As an industrial company, you are facing elevated cyber security risks. After all, your assets are complex, your systems are distributed, and your processes are complex. You are even further at risk if you lack sufficient security visibility, security expertise, and security awareness.

According to the SANS 2021 OT/ICS Cybersecurity Report, Industrial Control System (ICS) cybersecurity threats remain high and are growing in severity. A whopping 48% of surveyed organizations didn’t know whether their organizations had been compromised. 

61%

of factories have experienced a critical cybersecurity incident1

75%

of factories have experienced a cybersecurity incident that halted production1

62%

of countries saw an increase in ICS computer attacks in 2020 compared with 20192

$2.6 million

is the average annual cost of OT-specific malware attacks for organizations3

You Need a Blueprint to Help Mitigate Cyber Security Risks

Industrial companies looking to avoid the devastating and costly impacts of cyberattacks need a proven and consistent approach. They need a blueprint for planning, implementing and deploying industrial control system networks using industry best practices and IEC standards. ABB ICS Cyber Security Reference Architecture is that blueprint.

The ABB ICS Cyber Security Reference Architecture

The ABB ICS Cyber Security Reference Architecture is a proven and consistent approach to planning, implementing, and deploying industrial control system networks using industry best practices and IEC standards. As a template solution, it provides a common vocabulary for discussing implementations, often with the aim of stressing commonality.

The ABB ICS Cyber Security Reference Architecture is vendor agnostic and based on the IEC 62443 control system security standard to create a secure area between the production and external systems. While the architecture significantly improves cyber security posture, it is not a guarantee to pass external audits or that the system is secure.

Minimize Your Cyber Security Risks

The ABB ICS Cyber Security Reference Architecture helps you make better decisions, enable IIoT and maintain robust security. To mitigate cyber security risks, you need a solid architecture for your OT systems. That’s because your reference architecture is the keystone of OT security and your go-to document.

Make Better Decisions

Collects data from all devices without compromising security—so that you make better informed operational decisions.

Enable IIoT

Serves as an enabler for deployment of IIoT and digital services so that you continue on your path towards operational excellence.

Maintain Security

Enables you to create zones and conduits in accordance with 62243 and other standards for increased security.

How it works

The ABB ICS Cyber Security Reference Architecture is based on the five levels found in the IEC 62443 reference model, as described in IEC 62443-1-1.

Separating the trusted from the untrusted

The ABB ICS Cyber Security Reference Architecture eliminates the need for an additional secure area, often called DMZ or Level 3.5, that separates the trusted area (Levels 0, 1, 2, 3) from the untrusted area (Levels 4, 5) by using Level 3 as the secure area between the trusted and untrusted areas. This unique approach reduces complexity, keeps the Architecture consistent with IEC principles while not breaking from the 62443 model, and lets communication flow from secure to unsecure areas while maintaining security.

Use cases

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Related resources

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Referenses
  1. The State of Industrial Cybersecurity. Trend Micro. May 2021.
  2. Threat Landscape for Industrial Automation Systems. Statistics for H2 2020. Kaspersky. 2021.
  3. The Cost of OT Cybersecurity Incidents and How to Reduce Risk. Nozomi Networks. 2020.
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