Security Testing for Critical Infrastructure & Industrial (OT/ICS)

Australia's critical infrastructure—our energy grids, water supplies, transport networks, and industrial hubs—is the backbone of our economy and society. These sectors are powered by Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) that bridge the digital and physical worlds. As these systems become increasingly connected to traditional IT networks, a new and profound security frontier has emerged.

A cyber-attack in an OT environment is not just a data breach; it can cause catastrophic physical damage, halt national-scale production, and pose a direct threat to public safety and the environment. This guide outlines the highly specialised security testing required to defend Australia's most essential assets.

The Industrial Attack Surface: Where Digital Risks Have Physical Consequences

Securing OT is fundamentally different from securing a corporate IT network. The equipment is different, the protocols are different, and the consequences of a failure are far more severe.

• Disruption of Essential Services: A successful attack could trigger a widespread power outage, disrupt the water supply for a major city, or shut down a key port, causing massive economic and social disruption.

• Risks to Health, Safety & Environment (HSE): This is the paramount concern. A compromised industrial controller could disable safety systems in a processing plant, manipulate pressure in a pipeline to cause a rupture, or trigger a hazardous materials release, leading to injury, loss of life, or environmental disaster.

• Production Stoppage & Financial Loss: For mining, manufacturing, and resource companies, downtime is measured in millions of dollars per hour. Targeted ransomware or denial-of-service attacks against OT systems can halt production for days or weeks.

• Vulnerabilities in Legacy Systems: Many industrial environments rely on legacy systems that are decades old, cannot be easily patched, and were never designed for network connectivity. These systems often contain well-known vulnerabilities that are trivial for attackers to exploit once they gain a foothold.

A Specialised Approach to OT/ICS Security Testing

Testing live industrial environments requires extreme care, deep expertise, and a rigorous methodology to ensure that assessment activities do not disrupt critical operations. Our approach is built on a foundation of safety and precision.

1. IT/OT Boundary Assessment The most common attack path is from the corporate IT network to the industrial OT network. We begin by rigorously testing the firewalls, gateways, and other security controls that separate these two worlds to ensure this critical boundary cannot be breached.

2. Network Architecture & Segregation Review We analyse the design of your OT network to verify that critical control systems are properly isolated in secure zones. Proper network segregation is essential to prevent an attacker from moving laterally across the plant floor after an initial compromise.

3. Industrial Protocol & Device Assessment Our specialists have experience with the unique protocols (e.g., Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA) and devices (PLCs, RTUs, HMIs) used in industrial settings. We conduct passive analysis and carefully controlled active testing to identify known vulnerabilities without impacting operational stability.

4. Physical & Wireless Security Testing We assess the physical security of your facilities to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive control equipment. We also test the security of any wireless technologies (e.g., Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN, private LTE) used to connect industrial sensors and controllers, ensuring they cannot be manipulated or eavesdropped on.

Building Resilience for Australia's Industrial Backbone

Protecting Australia's critical infrastructure is a shared responsibility. A proactive approach to security testing is essential for managing risk, ensuring regulatory compliance, and protecting your people, assets, and the public.

Securing Operational Technology requires a rare and specialised skill set. Contact us today for a confidential, non-disruptive consultation on the security posture of your industrial environment.