Industrial Control Systems have been heavily targetted by cyber-criminals in recent years, there have been several high-profile cases, not least complex phishing and malware campaigns.
Once a hacker has gained access, they may attempt to trigger shutdowns, by interrupting or manipulating operating parameters.
Such events have not yet known to have caused loss of life, but it’s widely considered they will play a major part in future cyber warfare.
CyTAL has recently contributed to recommendations for a new EU cybersecurity certification scheme targeting industrial automation and control systems (IACS) as part of the IACS Thematic Group, under the EU ERNCIP project.
Our team is also very familiar with the IEC62443 standards.
Interfaces between products and systems have never been so important to protect and this is where CyTAL really leads the way.
Our advanced security software allows vendors and end-users to assess such interfaces, prioritise previously unknown security issues and then tackle them before they become exposed to the outside world.
Protecting the Backbone of Critical Infrastructure
Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and SCADA networks manage the critical infrastructure that modern society depends on power generation and distribution, water treatment, manufacturing, chemical processing, oil and gas operations, and transportation systems. These environments were designed for reliability and safety, not cybersecurity, and that legacy continues to create risk.
As ICS environments undergo digital transformation and connect to IT networks, they face unprecedented cyber threats. What were once air-gapped systems are now accessible through corporate networks, cloud platforms, and remote access solutions. Nation-state actors, criminal organisations, and hacktivists are actively targeting industrial infrastructure, and the consequences of successful attacks can be catastrophic.
The ICS Threat Landscape
Industrial control systems remain high-value targets for sophisticated threat actors. Recent years have seen increasingly bold attacks on critical infrastructure, from ransomware campaigns shutting down pipelines to state-sponsored operations targeting power grids and manufacturing facilities.
Unlike traditional IT systems where confidentiality is often the primary concern, ICS security focuses on availability and safety. A compromised controller can:
- Disrupt production and cause economic damage
- Damage physical equipment through manipulation of operating parameters
- Create safety hazards for personnel
- Cause environmental incidents
- Impact entire supply chains and dependent systems
The convergence of IT and OT creates new attack vectors. Attackers who gain access to corporate networks can pivot to industrial systems. Remote access solutions, while operationally necessary, expand the attack surface. Even well intentioned digital initiatives can inadvertently expose industrial systems to threats they were never designed to withstand.
Protocol Security Challenges
Industrial control systems communicate using specialised protocols, many of which were designed decades ago without security as a primary consideration. Modern ICS environments typically involve multiple protocols:
Legacy SCADA Protocols:
- Modbus TCP/RTU – Widely deployed across industries, with minimal built-in security
- DNP3 – Common in utility and energy sectors for SCADA communications
- Profibus/Profinet – Dominant in manufacturing and process automation
- EtherNet/IP – Used extensively in discrete manufacturing
Modern Industrial Protocols:
- OPC-UA – The evolving standard for industrial interoperability with built-in security features
- IEC 61850 – Substation automation and smart grid communications
- BACnet – Building and industrial automation
- MQTT/CoAP – Lightweight protocols for IIoT applications
Proprietary Systems: Many industrial environments also rely on proprietary protocols from specific vendors, which may have unknown security characteristics.
Each protocol has unique security considerations. Legacy protocols often lack authentication and encryption, transmitting commands and data in clear text. Even modern protocols with security features can have implementation vulnerabilities that undermine their protection mechanisms.
Our ICS Security Expertise
CyTAL has deep expertise in industrial control system security. We understand the unique constraints of ICS environments where up time is critical, changes must be carefully controlled, and safety is paramount. Our team has contributed to EU cybersecurity certification schemes for Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) through the ERNCIP project, and we maintain extensive knowledge of IEC 62443 standards.
We help ICS vendors, system integrators, and industrial operators to:
Discover Protocol Vulnerabilities
Industrial protocol implementations often contain subtle bugs that can be exploited to manipulate operations, bypass authentication, or cause denial of service. We identify these vulnerabilities before attackers do.
Secure Product Development
For manufacturers of PLCs, RTUs, HMIs, and other industrial equipment, we provide security testing throughout the development lifecycle to ensure products meet IEC 62443 and other relevant standards.
Validate IEC 62443 Compliance
We help you navigate the complex IEC 62443 standard family and validate that your products and systems meet required security levels.
Assess Operational Security
For organisations operating ICS environments, we evaluate deployed systems, identify vulnerabilities, and provide practical remediation guidance that respects operational constraints.
Test System Integration
Modern ICS environments involve complex integration between multiple vendors’ products. We test these integration points to identify security weaknesses in the broader system architecture.
Support Digital Transformation
As you modernise legacy systems and integrate new technologies, we ensure security is maintained throughout the transition.
ProtoCrawler: Built for Industrial Protocols
ProtoCrawler is our advanced fuzzing platform, purpose-built for discovering vulnerabilities in industrial control protocols. Unlike generic security tools, ProtoCrawler understands the semantics of industrial communications, enabling deep testing of protocol implementations.
ProtoCrawler excels at testing:
- Modbus TCP and RTU implementations
- DNP3 (including secure authentication)
- OPC-UA servers and clients
- Profinet and EtherNet/IP devices
- IEC 61850 implementations
- BACnet devices and controllers
- Custom and proprietary industrial protocols
Our fuzzing approach discovers vulnerabilities including:
- Authentication bypass vulnerabilities
- Command injection and manipulation
- Buffer overflows and memory corruption
- State machine errors and race conditions
- Denial of service vulnerabilities
- Protocol implementation flaws
- Cryptographic weaknesses in secure protocols
Explore our protocol coverage: View protocol library
Real-World Impact
The vulnerabilities we discover in industrial protocols have direct operational and safety consequences:
- Unauthorized control – Attackers gaining the ability to send commands to PLCs, RTUs, or other controllers
- Process manipulation – Altering setpoints, operational parameters, or safety systems
- Equipment damage – Causing physical damage through malicious commands
- Safety incidents – Creating hazardous conditions for personnel
- Production disruption – Shutting down operations or causing cascading failures
- Data manipulation – Altering sensor readings or operational data
- Persistent access – Establishing footholds for long-term espionage or future attacks
Standards and Certification Expertise
CyTAL actively contributes to industrial cybersecurity standards development. Our work with the EU ERNCIP IACS Thematic Group has helped shape certification requirements for industrial automation and control systems.
We have deep familiarity with:
- IEC 62443 – The comprehensive standard family for industrial automation and control systems security
- NERC CIP – Critical Infrastructure Protection standards for the energy sector
- EU cybersecurity certification schemes – Emerging requirements for industrial systems
- Industry-specific standards – Sector-specific security requirements and best practices
Our understanding of these standards isn’t just theoretical we help organisations implement them in real-world operational environments.
The ICS Security Imperative
The threat to industrial control systems is not hypothetical. Critical infrastructure is under active attack, and the sophistication of threat actors continues to increase. The convergence of IT and OT, remote access requirements, and digital transformation initiatives are expanding attack surfaces faster than many organisations can secure them.
The operational and safety consequences of ICS compromises are severe. Unlike IT breaches where data loss is the primary concern, ICS incidents can result in equipment damage, production disruption, environmental impacts, and threats to human safety.
The complexity of modern industrial environments with multiple vendors, legacy and modern systems, and constrained operational windows makes security challenging. Traditional IT security approaches often don’t translate well to ICS environments. Specialised expertise is essential.
Partner with ICS Security Experts
Whether you’re manufacturing industrial equipment, integrating systems, or operating critical infrastructure, CyTAL can help you:
- Test products for protocol-level vulnerabilities
- Validate IEC 62443 compliance
- Assess security of deployed ICS environments
- Secure IT/OT integration points
- Implement security best practices that respect operational requirements
- Plan and execute secure digital transformation initiatives
Our approach balances security with operational reality. We understand that industrial systems can’t be patched on IT schedules, that up time is critical, and that safety must never be compromised.
Contact us to discuss how we can help secure your industrial control systems.
Industries we serve: Energy & Utilities | Manufacturing | Chemical Processing | Oil & Gas | Water & Wastewater | Transportation | Food & Beverage | Pharmaceuticals | Mining | Critical Infrastructure