Quantifying the Effects of Operational Technology or Industrial Control System based Cybersecurity Controls via CVSS Scoring

Abstract

This paper has examined the application of the Common Vulnerability Scoring System applied to operational technology or industrial control system-based cybersecurity controls and demonstrated that the unique considerations and aspects of these environments are more accurately captured when compared against a traditional IT based evaluation. Multiple business drivers are compelling consumer goods manufacturers to augment and connect their manufacturing systems bringing with it increases in potential for experiencing a cybersecurity incident [1]. While other business verticals are able to utilize cybersecurity standards and control documents tailored for their industry, manufacturers do not have a set of materials that directly correlate to the operational technology environments in which their systems reside [2]. Cybersecurity practitioners face additional challenges in developing an understanding of the severity of the risks within these environments due to the lack of current quantifiable methods of evaluating the risks. The findings from this research provide cybersecurity practitioners with a repeatable and extensible method to derive the operational risk present to an organization due to the technologies and business strategies employed in the pursuit of business objectives.