Security and Operational Challenges of Integrated Control and Safety Systems (ICSS) in the Operational Technology World

This session will explore the real-world challenges of integrating Basic Process Control Systems (BPCS) with Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS). For industries ranging from water to manufacturing, and operations both large and small, maintaining the separation of production and safety systems is essential, especially in the era of cloud and AI technologies.

Integrating control and safety systems can offer significant operational efficiencies, such as a common HMI for both applications, shared cybersecurity infrastructure, unified user access and management platforms, and ROI savings. However, it is critical for organizations to maintain separate underlying architectures to comply with standards like IEC 61508 and 61511.

We will address the risks and regulatory concerns specific to ICSS infrastructure, with a focus on industries that have limited infrastructure, such as water and oil & gas. The discussion will also highlight the importance of managing third-party access and how leveraging the same security tools and access perspectives can benefit both control and safety systems.

Attendees, including plant operators, security practitioners, auditors, leadership, and newcomers to the OT community, will gain valuable insights into the cybersecurity risks and operational threats associated with ICSS. The session will provide best practices and compliance strategies to help organizations achieve a secure and efficient integration of their control and safety systems.