IKARUS protects Europe’s critical infrastructure with cutting-edge technologies

In an increasingly digital world, how can we effectively protect critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks, operational failures and other digital threats? IKARUS Security Software, a leading industrial cyber security provider from Austria, is meeting this challenge with a combination of deep local expertise and innovative technologies.

Austrian IKARUS OT-Security Program to protect critical infrastructure

IKARUS has been a reliable partner to European companies for decades when it comes to protecting their critical infrastructure. “The threat landscape for industry has intensified massively during this time,” says IKARUS COO Christian Fritz: “Initially, it was mainly collateral damage caused by incidents in IT that had an impact on operational technology. These ‘lucky strikes’ have evolved into targeted attacks on industrial control systems. Today, critical infrastructure is targeted by organised, often state-sponsored actors.“

The NIS2 requirements, adopted as part of the EU’s efforts to raise cyber security standards, therefore focus on strengthening the security of critical and important infrastructure. NIS2 not only requires protection against malware, but also emphasises the need for risk analysis, incident management and end-to-end monitoring of systems. The focus is on stability, as disruptions in these areas can have serious consequences for our society.

Strengthening cyber resilience: Resilient systems instead of reactive measures

“The aim is not just to respond to attacks, but to create a resilient system that effectively prevents downtime and security breaches,” explains Herbert Dirnberger. He himself was responsible for the security of industrial equipment for more than 25 years and now supports industrial companies in securing their infrastructure: “This is where anomaly detection comes into play, for example: the early detection of deviations in system behaviour prevents potential threats before they lead to serious incidents.”

To protect OT and IoT systems, IKARUS relies on non-intrusive technologies from market leader Nozomi Networks that ‘listen’ but do not generate data or interfere with systems. The Guardian^TM passive OT security sensors analyse mirrored traffic and can use it to visualise and monitor the entire operational technology. „Security measures familiar from IT, such as system scans, are counterproductive in OT: sensitive systems could be burdened and significantly disrupted by these interventions and queries,“ explains Herbert Dirnberger.

In partnership with Mandiant, Nozomi Networks offers a TI Extension Pack: This extends the threat intelligence feeds for IT and OT threat detection to address the growing number of threats and support the fastest possible response to security incidents. Nozomi Arc Embedded, developed in close cooperation with Mitsubishi Electric, is the first security sensor for detecting installed software, drivers and adapters in an industrial control unit. The Nozomi Guardian Air security sensor monitors real-time activity on known wireless frequencies.

Benefits for European companies: Local expertise meets global excellence

IKARUS not only supports companies in the efficient integration of Nozomi Networks technologies, but also offers expert services tailored to the company’s specific requirements and security needs. To fully utilise the potential of the technologies and create added value beyond the NIS2 requirements, additional training and feedback rounds are worthwhile, especially at the beginning. The insight gained into data and operational processes helps organisations to improve efficiency, detect incidents early and increase system availability. „As a certified MSSP Elite Partner of Nozomi Networks, we can also offer Austrian companies particularly advantageous licensing models, which we tailor to local company sizes,“ says Christian Fritz: „ This gives smaller companies access to innovative technologies that would otherwise be out of reach.“

IKARUS and Nozomi Networks continue to work on innovative solutions and services. „The OT security landscape continues to change rapidly as both the number of threats, and the complexity of critical infrastructure systems increase. IT and OT systems will converge, the integration of IoT and IIoT and the increased use of cloud services will create new attack surfaces. And new regulatory requirements will follow,“ predicts Herbert Dirnberger: „It pays to plan for OT security in the long term and to build up internal knowledge.“

IKARUS will provide insights into the latest developments in OT security and the IKARUS OT Security Program at the it-sa expo&congress in Nuremberg, Germany, from 22 to 24 October 2024. Visit us at booth 7-227 in hall 7!

IKARUS OT Security Solutions: Cybersecurity and operational resilience for industry and critical infrastructure