This article from the Houston Chronicle highlights the need for layered security including proper VLAN design to segregate & contain malware as part of security:

Malicious software unintentionally downloaded by offshore oil workers has incapacitated computer networks on some rigs and platforms, exposing gaps in security that could pose serious risks to people and the environment, cybersecurity professionals told the Houston Chronicle.

The worst-case scenario could be catastrophic: A malfunctioning rig and safety systems could cause a well blowout, explosion, oil spill and lost human lives, experts said.

The way the article reads it seems like these platforms have large flat LANs, where employees' personal equipment is on the same network as the production equipment. I'm a fan of placing SCADA systems in their own VLAN with non-routable IP addressing - Internet and the rest of your local network. Place a physical firewall device between the SCADA LAN and the regular LAN, but lock that firewall down. Selectively open ports for maintenance and restrict when done. Monitor the heck out of the thing.

InfoSec professionals, how would you handle this type of situation?

via Malware on oil rig computers raises security fears - Houston Chronicle.



My original entry is here: Malware on oil rig computers raises security fears - Houston Chronicle. It posted Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:59:28 +0000.

Filed under: defense in depth, firewall, InfoSec, malware, vlan,