Managing an operational technology (OT) network requires swift action. Whether detecting and responding to security breaches or ensuring uninterrupted production, critical infrastructure businesses need fast insights to make informed decisions. Time truly is of the essence.
The significance of network visibility cannot be overstated. More specifically, generating and sending packet-level data throughout an environment to monitor OT assets, user activity, equipment health, and identifying security threats are pivotal in securing your network.
Here, we explore passive and active monitoring for gaining network visibility, along with the benefits and downsides of each solution.
Passive Monitoring Explained
Passive monitoring is a way of getting visibility on OT networks and industrial control systems (ICS) without interacting with traffic or pushing data packets outside the network. As the name suggests, this solution works "passively" to help collect data on your OT assets without alerting users or potential intruders.
It's also helpful to ensure throughput and uptime. Because ICS systems are often brittle and sensitive, they typically have a maximum threshold for the number of transmission control protocol (TCP) connections allowed before OT and ICS devices will overload and shut down...Read More!
