10 Jan 2022

OT/IT Convergence and the New Industrial Cybersecurity Standard: IEC 62443

Tags

  • OT/IT Convergence
  • IEC 62443
  • Industrial Cybersecurity
  • Network Segmentation
  • SCADA Security
  • Risk Assessment
  • Critical Infrastructure

Since late 2021, industrial cybersecurity has moved from a back-office compliance exercise to a board-level priority. High-profile attacks on critical infrastructure exposed how exposed operational technology (OT) networks had become as they converged with corporate IT systems, and the industry response has centred heavily around the IEC 62443 series of standards.

IEC 62443 provides a structured framework for securing industrial automation and control systems (IACS), covering everything from network segmentation and zone/conduit design to secure product development lifecycles for PLC and SCADA vendors. Rockwell, Siemens, Beckhoff and other major automation suppliers have all aligned their product roadmaps with its requirements.

For control systems integrators, this has translated into practical changes: defence-in-depth network architectures, managed switches with VLAN segmentation, hardened HMI/SCADA configurations, and formal risk assessments built into the Functional Design Specification stage of every project.

Why It Matters for Engineers

Cybersecurity is no longer a separate workstream bolted on after commissioning — it now shapes control system architecture from the earliest design reviews. Specifying segmented networks and following IEC 62443 zone/conduit principles has become as standard a deliverable as the I/O schedule itself.

Services Used

Services Featured In This Post

Control Systems Design

Control Systems Design

Where required, IMSI can take a project from the concept stage through to full production. Whether you know what you need or just know the problem, IMSI can work with you to achieve a solution.In terms of control system design, focusing on the bigger picture is essential. As an external partner, we gain a universal understanding in the nature and design of your control system, developing automation solutions that will enhance the performance of your entire operation.
Reviewing your system objectives both in the short and long term, we can help identify system design solutions to achieve improved reliability, efficiency and productivity. We verify whether your current control system diagrams are still relevant, before using our detailed analysis to design the new system.
Our fully integrated solutions include Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), variable-speed drives (VSDs), servos, motor control centres (MCCs), SCADA/HMI systems, machine vision and safety systems.
Read More →

Interested in Working With Us?

Let's discuss how IMSI can deliver a tailored solution for your project.

Get In Touch