From Cyberspace to the Physical World: How to Secure Interconnected Systems

The line between virtual and physical threats is becoming increasingly blurred. Cyber-physical attacks represent a new frontier where digital actions have direct consequences in the physical world. With the rise of interconnected systems, attacks are not limited to data , but seek to damage tangible assets such as critical infrastructure, business services, or even essential day-to-day processes. This scenario not only puts resources such as electricity, water and gas at risk, but also endangers the integrity of people, organizations and the environments that depend on these systems.

The recent cyber attack on the Port of Seattle which caused disruptions to key port operations in August 2024 is a case in point.  Another incident of this nature was the attack on bike-sharing company RideMovi in Bologna, Italy, in June 2024.  In this case a hacked app compromised the company's systems, allowing bikes to be unlocked without authorization. As a result of this misuse, 80% of the bikes were put out of service due to damage and accelerated wear and tear, severely affecting the availability of the service. 

These incidents show how the convergence between information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) opens up new attack vectors, enabling cybercriminals to infiltrate systems, move laterally, and compromise both digital and physical security.

How do these attacks work? 

Cyber-physical attacks rely on traditional attack vectors to compromise interconnected systems and translate digital actions into tangible consequences. The most commonly used tactics include:

• Exploitation of vulnerabilities: cybercriminals identify and exploit flaws in software, hardware, or communication protocols to access sensitive systems and compromise physical operations.
• Configuration errors and legacy systems: many organizations operate with obsolete or misconfigured infrastructures, facilitating access by malicious actors.
• Threats targeting IT/OT convergence: hackers exploit the integration of operational and information networks to infiltrate systems, move laterally, and compromise physical processes.
• Poorly secured remote access techniques: tools such as RDP with insufficient configurations allow hackers to penetrate interconnected networks. This can disrupt critical physical processes, such as shutting down machinery or disabling critical automated systems, by blocking access to controls.
• Tactical use of poorly segmented networks: hackers exploit networks that lack effective segmentation, using lateral movements to reach critical systems. This allows them to compromise multiple points within the connected infrastructure, facilitating access to physical systems and extending their reach within the organization.

3 key pillars for protecting interconnected systems

Protecting interconnected systems from cyber-physical attacks requires a comprehensive strategy that combines advanced technology with best practices. Tools capable of detecting malicious activity early and analyzing behavioral patterns make it possible to strengthen security in physical and digital infrastructures, providing a more robust defense adapted to the current landscape.

Integrating a system such as WatchGuard’s ThreatSync+ NDR is an ideal solution as it offers highly effective network detection, response, and compliance capabilities designed for cybersecurity teams with distributed networks. This enables you to address the specific challenges of protecting interconnected infrastructures through three key pillars:

1. Proactive monitoring and detection:

Continuous monitoring, coupled with detailed analysis of network traffic, helps identify anomalous patterns, such as lateral movement or unauthorized network activity, enabling threats to be contained before they compromise critical systems.

2. Response automation:

Once network risks and threats are identified, they are automatically transferred to an XDR platform for remediation, providing a unified response that coordinates fast and effective actions to mitigate the impact of cyber-physical incidents and significantly reduce reaction time.

3. Centralized visibility:

By integrating IT and OT network monitoring, this solution provides a unified view of all interconnected environments, facilitating risk identification and prioritization.

In a world where digital threats can impact the physical world, protecting interconnected systems must go beyond traditional measures. It requires precise coordination between technology, processes, and people to anticipate attacks and respond effectively. By implementing comprehensive strategies that prioritize visibility, automation, and early detection, organizations not only mitigate risk, but ensure reliable and resilient operations in an ever-evolving environment.