Water systems are a critical piece of our nation's infrastructure, interweaving complex networks of IT (Information Technology) and OT/ICS (Operational Technology/Industrial Control Systems). These interconnected environments, including SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, are essential for water treatment, distribution, and quality control. 

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However, this interconnectivity also brings a significant cybersecurity challenge: Maintaining operational efficiency, security and seamless communication between IT and OT/ICS and SCADA while mitigating risks from unauthorized access, data breaches, ransomware, and malicious attacks. 

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Yisda specializes in real-world easy-to-use Cloaked Zero Trust Solutions that protect critical water systems, making their digital and physical assets both invisible and inaccessible to unauthorized entities. Our Cloaking Security Technology provides a secure, end-to-end encrypted tunnel for safe communication between users and protected assets or systems, only allowing access when a user is verified through multi-factor authentication (MFA) and when cryptographic identities of user, their approved devices and the cloaked and secured asset are authenticated. By cloaking all interactions between users, devices, data, and applications, we create a robust communication network and a shield for your water infrastructure, preventing any reconnaissance efforts or unauthorized access.

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The Need for Cybersecurity in IT/OT Converged Critical Infrastructure and Water Systems

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Water infrastructure is one of the most attractive targets for cyberattacks by nation-states and ransomware groups due to its critical role in public health and safety, its increasingly digital operations, and its exposed, easily exploitable vulnerabilities. The necessity for remote access to both IT and OT systems by employees, third-party vendors, and management exacerbates these risks. The interdependency between IT (which manages data, networking, and communications) and OT/ICS and SCADA (which manages the physical processes and machinery) makes it essential to protect both systems. However, the operational efficiency provided by this convergence comes with risks:

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• Difficult-to-Secure Interconnectivity: IT and OT systems often share overlapping networks, creating potential vulnerabilities where hackers can use IT entry points to breach and impair OT operations and vice-versa.

• Insufficient Security, Segmentation & Controls: Without proper segmentation and security controls, threats originating in the IT environment can easily spread to OT systems, where the stakes include impaired water treatment, contamination, operational shutdowns, public health risks, reputational damage and loss of public trust. Additionally breaches originating in OT environments can easily spread to IT environments where hackers can compromise other critical data and systems.

• Simple Security and Basic Segmentation Are Not Sufficient Security Measures - After Stolen User Credentials, Misconfigured Firewalls Are the Root Cause of 99% of Breaches: Gartner estimates that 99% of firewall breaches are caused by misconfiguration errors, not inherent flaws in firewall technology itself. Simple mistakes like leaving ports open, improper rule prioritization, or granting excessive access make networks vulnerable to exploitation.

• 20,000 New Vulnerabilities Discovered Annually: NIST’s National Vulnerability Database (NVD) adds about 20,000 newly discovered vulnerabilities every year, many of which can be exploited by hackers to bypass firewalls.

• Remote Access Risks From Employees or Third Party Vendors: Essential for management and troubleshooting, remote access to these interconnected environments can introduce vulnerabilities. Improperly secured connections and devices can be exploited, allowing unauthorized or compromised access to critical OT/ICS and SCADA systems. Misconfiguration of IT tools.

 

The pros of IT/OT integration are numerous, including increased efficiency, real-time monitoring, and remote control. However, if not managed properly, these benefits also introduce cons: expanded attack surfaces, complex security challenges, and increased risks of compromising both digital assets and physical water processes. Simple firewall segmentation is no longer a viable cybersecurity option. 

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Yisda’s Solution: Cloaking for Complete Security and Operational Continuity

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Yisda’s Cloaked Zero Trust Architecture addresses these challenges by focusing on complete invisibility and inaccessibility of assets to unauthorized users. Our Yisda Secure Overlay Network ensures that access to any part of your water systems—be it IT, OT/ICS, or SCADA—is only possible when users are explicitly verified through robust MFA and cryptographic identity verification. This eliminates implicit trust, stopping malicious actors from gaining a foothold in your system.

1. Invisible to Attackers: Yisda cloaks all critical water systems, rendering them undetectable to any unauthorized reconnaissance efforts. Hackers searching for access points into your water assets will simply find nothing to target.

2. Secure Remote Access: Remote workers, contractors, and management can securely access critical systems without exposing these systems to vulnerabilities. Yisda creates a secure, invisible tunnel for this access, minimizing risks while maintaining operational continuity.

3. Protection for Both IT and OT/ICS Environments: Our solution ensures that both IT and OT systems are secured without interrupting their interconnected operations. Even if a breach occurs in one environment, Yisda’s zero-trust policies prevent it from spreading to the other.
    

Real-World Success: Yisda’s Pilot Securing Utah’s Water Systems
 

Yisda successfully piloted its Cloaked Zero Trust solution in collaboration with the State of Utah, led by Phil Bates, Utah's CISO. The pilot demonstrated Yisda’s capability to secure water systems across several cities: American Fork, Kamas, Francis, and Scipio. This pilot focused on cloaking and securing critical IT, OT/ICS, and SCADA systems, protecting them from the types of cyberattacks that have previously attempted to critically damage and impair municipal water operations. Such attacks have included efforts to poison water supplies, disrupt critical processes, and hold entire city infrastructures for ransom.

During the pilot, Yisda’s technology successfully:
 

• Cloaked and Secured IT and OT/ICS Assets: Critical assets were rendered invisible to unauthorized users, preventing any external or internal reconnaissance attempts.

• Enabled Secure, Remote Access: Verified users accessed protected water systems without exposing vulnerabilities, ensuring that only properly authenticated personnel could interact with vital water operations.

• Provided Real-Time Monitoring and Cryptographic Protection: Every interaction between devices, applications, and users was secured and encrypted, making unauthorized access and data breaches impossible.
   

The successful demonstration highlighted the robustness of Yisda's cloaking technology, offering water municipalities comprehensive protection against the full range of cybersecurity threats.
 

Benefits of Yisda’s Secure Overlay Network for Water Systems
 

1. Operational Efficiency Without Compromise: Maintain seamless operations between IT and OT/ICS systems while ensuring complete security.

2. Zero Trust for Remote Access: Securely grant access to third-party vendors and remote workers without introducing new vulnerabilities.

3. Elimination of Attack Surface: Cloaking your critical assets prevents them from being discovered and targeted by hackers.

4. Proactive Threat Mitigation: By eliminating the visibility of your critical systems, you remove the threat before it can act—making ransomware, data breaches, and other cyberattacks obsolete.
    

Safeguarding Our Water's Digital and Physical Future:
 

Yisda’s Cloaked Zero Trust Security is tailored for the unique needs of critical water infrastructure. Our solutions effectively mitigate the risks of data breaches, ransomware, and unauthorized access in environments where IT, OT/ICS, and SCADA systems converge. We understand that water operations are essential for public health, environmental safety, and rural and urban functionality, and our technology guarantees that these systems are protected against the ever evolving cyber threats.