How to Secure Operational Technology Data with an All-in-One Computing Platform

Dec. 8, 2022 - Digital transformation is an inevitable part of modern business evolution. Operational Technology (OT) data is at the core of this transformation. OT data from edge devices, such are sensors, is collected and processed locally in cloud applications to gain valuable insights that help optimize overall business efficiency and management. As the scale of the OT data grows, with many businesses adopting a distributed edge computing approach, securing OT data and edge devices against cyberattacks is more important than ever.

Defending against cyberattacks

The large-scale deployment of distributed devices and edge computers has increased the risk of unauthorized access and cyberattacks. As cyberattacks escalate -- with critical infrastructure targeted more frequently -- the risk of data theft and disruption of operations have increased. There is an urgent need to protect OT data and systems. Businesses must adopt a multipronged approach to security to minimize the risk of threats to their edge devices and systems, failing which, they are looking at potential damage to operations and theft of sensitive data.

All-in-one security for operational data and systems

Safeguarding operational data and systems from cyber threats requires hardware, software, and breach-resistant security measures. Physically securing end devices is critical but may not be feasible, especially in remote locations.

Additional security measures are required to fully secure data and devices. Secure Boot, a built-in security mechanism, ensures the edge computers boot only from a validated and authorized bootloader and operating system. Full disk encryption, mainly used to prevent the exposure of sensitive and confidential data from a stolen hard disk, should be considered as well. Incorporating these elements ensures comprehensive protection of edge devices from most types of threats.

Moxa’s partnership with Intel

Moxa provides an all-in-one solution designed with security features to match the cybersecurity framework needed to keep OT data secure. Moxa V2406C Series rail computers come with Intel® Boot Guard, Intel Trusted Execution Technology (Intel TXT), Intel Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (Intel AES-NI) hardware-enabled security. In addition, Secure Boot and full disk encryption strengthen security on the software side with the adoption of TPM 2.0 as the hardware Root of Trust. Moxa Industrial Linux 2 (MIL2) reinforces the security measures and helps meet the component requirements of the IEC 62443-3-3 system security standard.

For more information, download the whitepaper from Moxa and Intel.

About Moxa

Moxa is a leader in edge connectivity, industrial computing, and network infrastructure solutions for enabling connectivity for the Industrial Internet of Things. With over 30 years of industry experience, Moxa has connected more than 71 million devices worldwide and has a distribution and service network to serve customers in more than 80 countries.