In the context of Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS)—such as SCADA, DCS, and PLC environments—several cybersecurity delivery frameworks are widely used to guide risk management, architecture design, and secure operations. These frameworks help align security practices with business objectives while addressing the unique constraints of industrial systems (e.g., availability, safety, legacy equipment).
Below are the most relevant and commonly adopted cybersecurity delivery frameworks for ICS/OT:
1. IEC 62443 (formerly ISA/IEC 62443)
- Purpose: The de facto global standard for ICS cybersecurity.
- Structure: Divided into four main parts:
- Part 1: Concepts and terminology (e.g., zones, conduits, security levels).
- Part 2: Policies and procedures for asset owners.
- Part 3: System design requirements (e.g., SR 1–SR 4 security levels).
- Part 4: Product development lifecycle for vendors.
- Use Case: Guides the entire lifecycle—from risk assessment (Zone & Conduit model) to secure system design, implementation, and ongoing monitoring.
- Key Output: Defines Security Levels (SL-C, SL-T) and helps scope segmentation, access control, and monitoring.
✅ Most directly applicable to SCADA, DCS, and PLC environments.
2. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
- Purpose: Flexible, risk-based framework for critical infrastructure (including energy, water, and manufacturing).
- Core Functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover.
- OT Adaptation: NIST SP 800-82 (Guide to ICS Security) supplements the CSF with OT-specific guidance.
- Use Case: Aligns IT/OT security programs, supports regulatory compliance (e.g., NERC CIP), and facilitates executive communication.
✅ Widely accepted by U.S. federal and critical infrastructure sectors.
3. NIST SP 800-82 (Rev. 3) – Guide to Industrial Control System (ICS) Security
- Purpose: OT-specific companion to the NIST CSF.
- Content: Covers ICS architecture, threats, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures (e.g., network segmentation, secure remote access, patch management for legacy systems).
- Use Case: Practical implementation guide for engineers and security teams working in power, oil & gas, chemical, and water sectors.
✅ Highly actionable for day-to-day ICS security engineering.
4. MITRE ATT&CK for ICS
- Purpose: Knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques specifically targeting ICS/OT.
- Structure: Maps real-world ICS attack patterns across 8 tactics (e.g., Initial Access, Inhibit Response Function, Impact).
- Use Case: Enhances threat detection, red teaming, and security monitoring (e.g., SIEM/SOC rule development).
✅ Ideal for threat-informed defense and improving detection capabilities.
5. CIS Controls (Center for Internet Security) – ICS Variant
- Purpose: Prioritized, actionable security controls adapted for OT.
- Version: CIS ICS Controls v2 aligns with IEC 62443 and NIST.
- Use Case: Helps organizations implement foundational hygiene (e.g., asset inventory, secure configurations, log management) in constrained OT environments.
✅ Great for building a baseline security program.
6. ISO/IEC 27001 & 27002 (with OT considerations)
- Purpose: General information security management (ISMS), but increasingly applied to converged IT/OT environments.
- OT Gap: Requires significant tailoring—e.g., treating “availability” as more critical than “confidentiality.”
- Use Case: Certification for organizations with integrated IT/OT security governance.
⚠️ Useful for corporate compliance, but less prescriptive for OT-specific risks.
Putting It Together: A Practical Approach
In real-world ICS cybersecurity delivery, teams often combine frameworks:
- Use IEC 62443 for system architecture and risk zoning.
- Apply NIST CSF/800-82 for governance and process alignment.
- Leverage MITRE ATT&CK for ICS to prioritize detection engineering.
- Implement CIS ICS Controls for operational hardening.
Cybersecurity delivery frameworks provide a structured way to build, manage, and scale security programs. They are generally categorized into strategic frameworks (how to build a program), implementation standards (technical “how-to”), and service delivery models (how the work is performed).
1. Strategic Governance Frameworks
These help leaders align security with business goals and manage risk holistically.
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0: The “Gold Standard” for building a program. It is organized into six functions: Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. Version 2.0 (released in 2024) places a new, heavy emphasis on Governance and Supply Chain risk.
- ISO/IEC 27001: The global standard for an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Unlike NIST, this is a certifiable framework, meaning an external auditor can officially verify your compliance.
- COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies): Created by ISACA, this focuses heavily on IT governance and bridging the gap between technical issues, business risks, and control requirements.
2. Technical & Implementation Frameworks
These focus on the “hands-on” controls needed to stop attacks.
- CIS Critical Security Controls (CIS18): A prioritized list of 18 “best practice” actions. It is designed to be highly actionable—if you do nothing else, you do these things to stop the most common attacks.
- MITRE ATT&CK: A globally accessible knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques. Security teams use this to “think like a hacker” and build specific detections for known attack methods.
- Cyber Kill Chain: Developed by Lockheed Martin, this framework tracks the stages of a cyberattack (Reconnaissance → Weaponization → Delivery, etc.). It helps delivery teams identify where they can “break” the chain of an active attack.
3. Security Service Delivery Models
This refers to who executes the security work and how it is integrated into the business.
| Model | Description | Best For |
| In-House SOC | A dedicated internal Security Operations Center. | High-security, large enterprises. |
| MSSP / MDR | Outsourcing to a Managed Security Service Provider or Managed Detection & Response. | Organizations are scaling quickly. |
| Hybrid Model | Internal teams handle strategy/governance while an MSP handles 24/7 monitoring. | Internal teams handle strategy/governance, while an MSP handles 24/7 monitoring. |
| Secure SDLC | Integrating security directly into the software development lifecycle (DevSecOps). | Software and tech-heavy companies. |
4. Industry-Specific Frameworks
If you operate in a specific sector, these frameworks are often mandatory:
- PCI DSS: For companies handling credit card data.
- HIPAA: For healthcare providers and data in the US.
- CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification): Required for contractors working with the US Department of Defense.
- SOC 2: An auditing procedure that ensures service providers securely manage data to protect the interests and privacy of their clients.
How to choose a framework?
- Start with NIST CSF if you need a roadmap to build a program from scratch.
- Use CIS Controls if you want a technical checklist to “harden” your systems immediately.
- Aim for ISO 27001 if you need to prove your security to international clients or partners.