Safety Assumptions That Cybersecurity Must Protect
A strong operating mindset starts with: What must always be true for the plant to operate safely? Cybersecurity then helps protect the assumptions safety depends on—trusted sensor readings, reliable controller behavior, and continuous operator visibility.
Operational Security Controls That Actually Stick
Effective programs focus on controls that match the way plants run:
• Cyber-informed risk assessment: mapping threats to operational impact (loss of view, loss of control, unsafe setpoints), not just data loss.
•Enforced change management: configurations, remote sessions, and vendor work are tracked, approved, tested, and auditable.
•Human factors and training: engineers/operators learn to spot abnormal system behavior—not only “email threats.”
Detection, Drills, and Recovery Under Stress
Safe operations depend on early detection and practiced recovery. That means defining baselines for “healthy” behavior, alerting that prioritizes operational relevance (so alarms don’t become noise), and drills that simulate degraded conditions. Recovery planning should include validated backups for critical engineering/configuration assets and rehearsed procedures that keep the plant predictable and safe even when something unexpected happens. In the end, safe nuclear operations isn’t about perfect prevention—it’s about controlled, resilient operation: systems that remain predictable, recoverable, and safe under pressure.
MW Solutions' Approach to OT Cybersecurity
At MW Solutions, we specialize in OT cybersecurity for critical infrastructure sectors, including the nuclear industry. Our services encompass comprehensive cybersecurity risk assessments, asset discovery, threat modeling, and the implementation of secure-by-design principles. We assist clients in developing and implementing robust cybersecurity strategies tailored to their specific operational needs and regulatory requirements.