The 5 Essential Controls to Protect Your Business
Operational Cybersecurity: A Strategic Issue You Can No Longer Ignore
Cyberattacks no longer target only traditional IT systems. Industrial environments and critical infrastructures, such as water, energy, transportation, and healthcare, are now at the heart of these threats. According to Dragos’ annual report, attacks against industrial organizations increased by 87% compared to the previous year.
This surge is driven by the convergence of IT and OT networks, making production environments more accessible to cybercriminals. Once isolated, these systems are now connected but often poorly protected. Their obsolescence, complexity, and lack of visibility make them prime targets for ransomware and hacktivist groups.
And contrary to popular belief, company size is not a determining factor. What matters is how easily an attacker can infiltrate the network. In fact, according to the 2025 SANS State of ICS/OT Security Survey, 22% of industrial organizations experienced a cybersecurity incident in 2025, and 40% of those incidents caused operational disruption.
To mitigate these risks, it is essential to involve senior leadership, conduct a maturity assessment, and implement the 5 critical controls recommended by the SANS Institute:
1. Deploy an Incident Response Plan Adapted to IT and OT
A well-structured incident response plan enables rapid reaction in case of an attack. It must be tailored to IT and OT environments, clearly define roles and responsibilities, and be regularly tested through simulations.
Why it matters: The first hours after an intrusion are decisive. An effective plan limits impacts and accelerates operational recovery.
2. Segment Networks for a Defensible Architecture
Network segmentation is a fundamental measure to contain attacks and limit their spread. It involves separating IT and OT environments, implementing robust firewalls, and controlling convergence points such as telemetry or cloud services.
A well-segmented architecture reduces the attack surface and protects critical assets.
3. Ensure Continuous 24/7 Monitoring
Visibility is the key to effective cybersecurity. Continuous monitoring detects suspicious behavior before it escalates into major incidents.
Best practices: Use behavioral detection tools, entrust monitoring to experts available 24/7, and integrate OT environments into your monitoring strategy.
4. Manage Vulnerabilities Proactively
Vulnerabilities evolve constantly. It is crucial to identify critical assets, prioritize patches based on risk level, and integrate vulnerability management into maintenance cycles.
Industrial systems, often decades old, were not designed with cybersecurity in mind. They require special attention.
5. Control Access and Monitor Third Parties
External access (suppliers, partners, maintenance) represents a major attack vector. Implement multi-factor authentication, supervise and log remote connections, and assess partners’ security posture.
A flaw in a firewall used by multiple SMEs can become an entry point for mass attacks.
Focus on Ransomware: A Real Threat
Ransomware remains one of the most disruptive attack vectors for businesses, particularly in manufacturing, which accounts for nearly 70% of observed cases. These attacks don’t just compromise data—they paralyze operations.
According to recent analyses, 25% of ransomware attacks lead to a complete shutdown of activities, while 75% cause major disruptions. This level of disruption puts direct pressure on victims, pushing them to pay quickly to restore operations.
In a context where industrial environments are increasingly connected but rarely designed with cybersecurity in mind, ransomware exploits every weakness to maximize its impact.
Cybersecurity: A Strategic Responsibility for Executives
Cybersecurity is now a governance issue. Executives play a key role in:
- Integrating cybersecurity into business strategy
- Allocating resources to protect critical assets
- Promoting a security-focused organizational culture
- Ensuring incident response plans are tested and operational
- Demanding high security standards from partners and suppliers
As highlighted by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, senior leaders must treat cyber threats as fundamental risks—on par with financial or operational risks.
Protect Your Operations Now
At VARS, we help organizations:
- Implement 24/7 monitoring
- Conduct maturity and risk assessments
- Deploy incident response plans tailored to your reality
- Implement asset management and vulnerability validation
- Set up secure access management systems
Contact us today for a free assessment of your security posture and protect your operations.