Technology

SANS 2024 ICS/OT Cybersecurity Survey Reveals Significant Progress While Highlighting That Major Gaps Remain in Securing Critical Infrastructure

Published

8 hours ago

October 7, 2024

Survey Shows Improvement in Cybersecurity Practices Across Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology (OT) But Emphasizes Need for Enhanced Response Capabilities

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — SANS Institute has released the findings of its highly anticipated SANS 2024 State of ICS/OT Cybersecurity survey, revealing significant strides in securing industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) environments. Notably, the report sounds a clear warning that while some organizations are raising the bar, many are still leaving critical systems exposed, with significant gaps between the “haves” and the “have-nots” in ICS/OT security.

“Still, many others are just beginning to grasp the complexity of securing these critical environments and this disparity poses a major risk as interconnectedness increases.”

The survey, presented by SANS-certified instructor and survey author Jason D. Christopher, revealed that organizations using both ICS/OT cybersecurity standards and threat intelligence to guide their program are lightyears ahead of their peers in terms of maturity and capabilities. Such organizations are quicker to detect cyber events, are more likely to have mapped all external connections to the industrial environment, and typically have ICS/OT-specific security operation centers (SOCs). In comparison, organizations without such guiding principles tend to lack central governance for industrial cyber risk management and lack basic capabilities, like a dedicated incident response plan.
For the first time since its inception, the 2024 State of ICS/OT Cybersecurity also examines historical trends over the past five years with some hopeful trends outlining improved security for industrial facilities. For example, in 2019, a majority of respondents who suffered an ICS/OT cybersecurity incident took, on average, 2-7 days to detect a compromise. Five years later, over half of respondents reported the same capability took less than 24 hours—a marked improvement for critical infrastructure asset owners and operators. Similarly, basic security protections like endpoint protection and multifactor authentication for remote access saw drastic increases in their deployments since 2019.

“There’s a growing recognition of the importance of ICS/OT security, and the good news is that the industry is maturing,” said Jason Christopher. “We’re seeing more time, resources, and strategy being allocated to protect these systems. However, the gaps we’re identifying, particularly around ICS/OT-specific security operations and visibility into industrial environments, highlight that we still have a lot of work to do.”

Key Findings of the 2024 Survey Include:
●Improved Detection Capabilities: In 2019, OT-specific monitoring was used by only 33% of respondents seeing a significant jump to 52% in 2024—highlighting the importance in visibility for these critical networks.
●Significant Gaps in Preparation and Workforce: Only a small percentage (34%) of respondents prepare for cyber incidents using range environments with ICS/OT-specific tools. Combined with the majority (51%) of respondents protecting these systems without a relevant certification, and there’s cause for concern when examining how prepared security teams are in recovering from an industrial cyber incident.
●Growing Adoption of Cloud Solutions: Despite concerns, cloud-based ICS/OT solutions saw a +15% increase in adoption, especially in non-regulated environments.
●Limited AI Adoption: AI remains largely experimental, with few organizations applying it to ICS/OT due to lack of use cases and safety/reliability concerns.

“The gap between security leaders and the rest of the industry is growing,” Christopher continued. “We see some organizations doing incredible work, leveraging both industry standards and ICS-specific threat intelligence to improve security posture. Still, many others are just beginning to grasp the complexity of securing these critical environments and this disparity poses a major risk as interconnectedness increases.”

These findings and more will be explored in depth during the SANS 2024 ICS/OT Cybersecurity Survey Webcast on October 9, 2024, at 10:30 AM EDT. The webcast will feature survey author Jason Christopher, along with industry experts, offering actionable recommendations and analysis on strengthening ICS/OT security strategies. Registrants will also receive a complimentary copy of the survey whitepaper.

For more information and to register for the webcast, please visit: SANS 2024 ICS/OT Survey Webcast.

Media Contact

Jenn Elston, SANS Institute, 301-654-7267, press@sans.org, SANS.org

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/sans-2024-icsot-cybersecurity-survey-reveals-significant-progress-while-highlighting-that-major-gaps-remain-in-securing-critical-infrastructure-302268883.html

SOURCE SANS Institute

Technology

NASA Welcomes Dominican Republic as 44th Artemis Accords Signatory

Published

54 mins ago

October 7, 2024

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Dominican Republic is the latest nation to sign the Artemis Accords and joins 43 other countries in a commitment to advancing principles for the safe, transparent, and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond with NASA.

“NASA is proud to welcome the Dominican Republic signing of the Artemis Accords as we expand the peaceful exploration of space to all nations,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The Dominican Republic has made important strides toward a shared future in space and is now helping guide space exploration for the Artemis Generation.”

Sonia Guzmán, ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United States, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the country on Oct. 4. The country also will confirm its participation in a high-level meeting of Artemis Accords signatories taking place Monday, Oct. 14, during the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, where furthering implementation of the principles will be discussed.

“This marks a historic step in our commitment to international collaboration in space exploration,” said Guzmán. “This is not just a scientific or technological milestone – it represents a future where the Dominican Republic contributes to the shared goals of peace, sustainability, and innovation beyond our planet. By joining the global effort to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond, we are also expanding the opportunities particularly for our young Dominicans in science, education, and economic development.”

In 2020, the United States and seven other nations were the first to sign the Artemis Accords, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.

The commitments of the Artemis Accords and efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles support the safe and sustainable exploration of space. More countries are expected to sign in the coming weeks and months.

For more information about NASA’s programs, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-welcomes-dominican-republic-as-44th-artemis-accords-signatory-302269304.html

SOURCE NASA

Technology

PetSafe® Announces Exciting Deals for Amazon Fall Prime Day

Published

54 mins ago

October 7, 2024

Discover Unbeatable Savings on Training, Containment, and Care Products for Your Beloved Pets This Fall Prime Day!

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PetSafe®, a leader in pet products and training solutions, is thrilled to share that pet owners can enjoy exclusive discounts on a wide selection of PetSafe® products during Amazon’s Fall Prime Day this October 8th and 9th. This is a fantastic opportunity for pet parents to invest in high-quality training tools and pet care solutions that enhance the lives of their furry companions.

Among the special offers are lightning deals on three featured products: the SportDOG Brand FieldTrainer 425X Remote Trainer, originally priced at $179.95, will be available for just $119.95; the PetSafe Wireless Pet Fence, which typically retails for $289.95, can be purchased for $199.95; and the PetSafe 1-Piece Sliding Glass Pet Door (Large), regularly $179.95, will be available for $129.95.

Additionally, PetSafe® will offer significant discounts on various best-selling items. Customers can find deals on the PetSafe® Easy Walk® Harness, available in multiple sizes and colors, along with the Deluxe Easy Walk® No Pull Harness. Other products include the Invisible Fence Brand Power Cap Battery, the Easysport Harness, and a range of bark control solutions, pet mats, and ramps designed to provide comfort and safety for pets.

These exclusive deals will be available during Amazon’s Fall Prime Day event, allowing pet owners to invest in their pets’ well-being while enjoying fantastic savings. For more details and to explore the full range of products, visit the PetSafe® storefront on Amazon.

For more information, visit PetSafeBrands.com or follow us on social media for the latest updates.

About PetSafe®
PetSafe® is the flagship retail brand of PetSafe Brands™, the world’s leading cat and dog products supplier. As a family of consumer brands that also includes Invisible Fence Brand®, SportDOG®, Kurgo® and Premier Pet®, PetSafe Brands™ is dedicated to unleashing joy for pet families everywhere by keeping pets healthy, safe and happy for a lifetime.

Contact:
Janna Chollet
917-826-8511
JChollet@PetSafe.net

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petsafe-announces-exciting-deals-for-amazon-fall-prime-day-302269318.html

SOURCE PetSafe®

Technology

CHAI launches API for Social AI after strong Q3 growth hitting 1.2M DAU

Published

54 mins ago

October 7, 2024

CHAI is a Palo Alto based startup that is growing quickly, hitting over 40% growth in Q3 2024. Their team currently consists of 12 engineers and they are aggressively hiring and planning massive expansion

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — CHAI initially had an app which is used by 1.2 million people a day, but has decided to branch out to offering B2B and B2C API after large demand from companion apps, chat apps, and social platforms.

The API is priced to compete with OpenAI gpt-4o-mini.

CHAI has demonstrated their model has significant uplift in retention and monetization rates for their AI, which has been optimized to be more entertaining, engaging and fun. Whereas most other AI API in the space are still focusing on accuracy and reasoning.

Press Contact:
Tom Lu
+1 (626) 594-8966

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chai-launches-api-for-social-ai-after-strong-q3-growth-hitting-1-2m-dau-302269326.html

SOURCE Chai