Bridging Engineering and Cybersecurity
As Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity continues to evolve, a fundamental challenge remains—traditional engineering practices were not designed with cyber threats in mind. The result? Critical infrastructure and industrial systems that were built for reliability and performance but are now vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
This is where Cyber Informed Engineering (CIE) comes in. By embedding cybersecurity principles into engineering design and operations, CIE helps reduce risk at the source rather than relying on after-the-fact security fixes.
But what exactly is CIE, and how can organisations implement it effectively?
What is Cyber Informed Engineering (CIE)?
CIE is a proactive cybersecurity approach that integrates cyber risk management into the design, operation, and maintenance of OT systems. Instead of treating cybersecurity as an add-on, CIE ensures that security considerations are fundamentally embedded in engineering decisions.
At its core, CIE focuses on:
- Understanding cyber risks from an engineering perspective.
- Designing systems to reduce the attack surface.
- Applying security principles at every stage of the system lifecycle.
- Enhancing resilience through layered defences.
This approach aligns closely with established frameworks like IEC 62443, NIST CSF, and SFAIRP (So Far As Is Reasonably Practicable), ensuring that security is both practical and effective for OT environments.
Why CIE Matters for Critical Infrastructure
Critical infrastructure—such as energy, water, transportation, and manufacturing—relies on OT systems that were never built for connectivity. The convergence of IT and OT has introduced new cyber risks, making traditional security methods inadequate.
CIE redefines how organisations approach security by:
- Minimising inherent risks in system design.
- Ensuring security decisions are data-driven.
- Eliminating single points of failure.
- Enhancing resilience against emerging threats.
For example, instead of just applying network firewalls, CIE might involve:
- Removing unnecessary remote access at the design stage
- Ensuring control systems can operate in degraded modes
- Hardening default configurations before deployment
By integrating cybersecurity into engineering decisions, risks are reduced ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable)—not just mitigated after the fact.
Implementing CIE: The Who, What, and How
Who is Responsible?
CIE is not just a cybersecurity function—it’s an engineering-led process.
- Engineers need cybersecurity awareness.
- Cybersecurity professionals need engineering knowledge.
- Leadership must prioritise security at the design stage, not as an afterthought.
What Needs to Change?
- Engineering teams must apply secure-by-design principles.
- Risk assessments should focus on cyber and physical consequences together.
- System architectures should limit unnecessary connectivity by design.
How to Get Started?
- Assess Existing Engineering Processes – Identify cyber risks in current designs.
- Embed Cybersecurity into Engineering Standards – Update internal policies to align with CIE best practices.
- Train Engineering Teams on Cybersecurity – Ensure everyone understands how cyber threats impact OT.
- Implement Continuous Monitoring & Response – Build resilience into operations.
The Future of Cyber-Resilient Engineering
As OT systems become more connected, Cyber Informed Engineering (CIE) is no longer optional—it’s essential. Traditional IT cybersecurity strategies won’t work in OT environments without an engineering-first mindset.
At Implicit OT, we help organisations integrate CIE into their cybersecurity and engineering strategies, ensuring that security is built-in, not bolted on.
Want to strengthen your OT cybersecurity strategy? Let’s talk.
