OT Data Governance: NIST 800-82 & ISA-62443 for Secure Data Sharing

Want to secure your OT systems and share data safely? NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443 are two key frameworks that help organizations manage operational technology (OT) security and data governance. Here's what you need to know:

NIST 800-82: Focuses on risk management for industrial control systems (ICS) with a defense-in-depth approach. It offers practical strategies for classifying data, implementing access controls, and securing communication.

ISA-62443: Provides a zone-based security model for industrial automation. It emphasizes lifecycle security, supply chain risks, and tailored controls for different security levels.

Both frameworks address OT-specific challenges like legacy systems, real-time performance, and safety-critical operations. Combining them creates a robust security foundation that protects sensitive data while maintaining system reliability.

Quick Overview:

OT systems like SCADA, PLCs, and HMIs prioritize safety and uptime over data confidentiality.

OT data governance ensures accurate, secure, and accessible data without disrupting operations.

Tools like DreamFactory simplify compliance by automating secure API creation and governance processes.

These frameworks are essential for modern industrial environments, where IT and OT networks increasingly overlap. Keep reading to learn how they work, how they compare, and how tools like DreamFactory can help streamline implementation.

NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443 Standards Explained

NIST 800-82: OT Risk Management Framework

NIST Special Publication 800-82, titled "Guide to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security," provides detailed guidance on securing operational technology (OT) environments in the U.S. Unlike traditional IT systems, OT systems manage physical processes and often demand uninterrupted operation, making standard IT security measures insufficient.

This framework emphasizes risk-based controls tailored for industrial environments. It addresses unique challenges like legacy systems that are difficult to update, real-time operational demands, and the safety risks that arise if systems are disrupted. Controls are grouped into three categories: management, operational, and technical. These categories ensure that security measures align with the operational constraints of industrial systems, maintaining reliability and uptime.

A key principle of NIST 800-82 is layered protection for critical assets, which ensures overlapping defenses. If one security measure fails, others remain active to prevent breaches. This defense-in-depth strategy is crucial for safeguarding complex industrial systems.

For data governance, NIST 800-82 offers guidance on secure data handling in OT settings. It includes recommendations for classifying data, implementing access controls, and using secure communication protocols. These measures protect sensitive operational data without compromising system performance or reliability.

While NIST 800-82 focuses on risk management, ISA-62443 complements it by offering a structured approach to industrial automation security.

ISA-62443: Industrial Automation Security

ISA-62443 takes an architectural approach to securing industrial automation and control systems. This series of standards is specifically designed to address cybersecurity risks in industrial environments, offering a methodical way to identify, assess, and mitigate these risks.

At the heart of ISA-62443 is the concept of security zones and conduits. Security zones group assets with similar risk profiles and security needs, while conduits manage communication between zones. This structure allows organizations to apply tailored security controls based on the specific risks and requirements of each zone.

The standard also defines four Security Levels (SL), which align with various threat scenarios. SL-1 focuses on protection from accidental security breaches, while SL-4 addresses advanced, targeted attacks by highly skilled adversaries. Organizations can select the appropriate level based on their risk assessments and system criticality.

ISA-62443 emphasizes lifecycle security management, recognizing that industrial systems often remain operational for decades. It provides guidance for maintaining security throughout a system’s entire lifecycle - from design and implementation to operation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning.

Another key area is supply chain security, which is critical given the reliance on components from multiple vendors in industrial systems. ISA-62443 offers recommendations for assessing and managing risks associated with third-party components and services, ensuring that interconnected systems remain secure.

NIST 800-82 vs ISA-62443 Comparison

Both frameworks play a critical role in OT security. NIST 800-82 lays the groundwork for risk management, helping organizations identify threats, assess vulnerabilities, and choose appropriate controls. On the other hand, ISA-62443 provides a structured blueprint for applying those controls effectively within an industrial automation context.

Organizations often combine the two standards for a more comprehensive approach. NIST 800-82 is typically used for initial risk assessment and selecting controls, while ISA-62443 helps design and implement a robust security architecture. The decision to prioritize one over the other often depends on factors like regulatory requirements, global operations, and the complexity of existing systems. For instance, U.S.-based companies may lean towards NIST 800-82 due to compliance needs, whereas multinational organizations might find ISA-62443’s global applicability and structured design more suitable.

OT Data Governance Core Principles

Key Governance Principles

The frameworks outlined in NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443 emphasize core principles that establish a strong foundation for safeguarding OT data. These principles work together to ensure operational data remains secure while maintaining system performance.

Access control: Role-based access ensures that only authorized personnel can view or modify data. For example, maintenance staff might have read-only access to diagnostic data but no ability to alter control parameters.

Authentication: Verifying the identity of users, devices, and systems is critical before granting access to OT resources. Even older systems require secure methods like multi-factor authentication to enable protected remote access.

Auditability: Logging all activities allows for security incident reviews, compliance checks, and operational analysis. These logs must capture user actions without affecting the real-time performance of the system.

Configuration management: This principle focuses on maintaining system integrity by controlling changes to hardware, software, and network configurations. Establishing baselines and managing updates helps reduce vulnerabilities and prevent disruptions.

Incident response: Clear procedures for addressing security incidents are essential. While breaches may happen, the focus is on minimizing their impact and ensuring systems continue to operate smoothly.

These principles form the backbone of effective OT security strategies in the U.S. and address the specific challenges of OT environments.

OT-Specific Security Challenges

While these governance principles are vital, OT environments face distinct challenges that set them apart from IT systems.

Real-time performance requirements: Industrial control systems often operate with millisecond-level response times. Security measures must be carefully designed to avoid introducing latency that could disrupt critical control processes.

Safety-critical operations: Security measures must protect data without interfering with essential safety systems. Even during security incidents, safety functions must remain fully operational to prevent risks.

Legacy systems: Many OT systems are older and lack modern security features. These systems require customized controls and network-based solutions to address vulnerabilities, as upgrading them can be costly or impractical.

Regulatory compliance: Certain industries, such as utilities, must adhere to strict standards like NERC CIP. These regulations require comprehensive security programs, regular risk assessments, and both technical and administrative controls.

U.S. Implementation Considerations

To align with NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443, U.S. organizations must integrate these governance principles into security programs that comply with federal standards.

Federal standards alignment: NIST SP 800-82 is a key resource for securing OT systems and should be used alongside other federal guidelines like NIST SP 800-53 and the Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).

Regulatory compliance frameworks: Industry-specific mandates, such as NERC CIP for utility providers, shape how OT data governance programs are structured and implemented.

Government resources: Agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provide tools such as the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. These resources help organizations identify and address risks in their OT systems.

Documentation and reporting standards: In the U.S., compliance documentation adheres to established conventions. Dates are formatted as MM/DD/YYYY, numbers use commas for thousands and periods for decimals, and imperial units are standard unless otherwise specified by industry norms.

Structured program development: Organizations should follow the guidance in NIST SP 800-82r3, Section 3. This includes creating strong governance structures, defining security strategies, and implementing incident response protocols that align with federal requirements and industry best practices.

DreamFactory for Secure OT Data Sharing

DreamFactory Core Features

DreamFactory simplifies the process of connecting legacy OT systems to modern frameworks like NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443 by instantly generating secure REST APIs. This eliminates the need for extensive custom development, allowing organizations to integrate their existing OT infrastructure with contemporary data governance standards quickly and efficiently.

The platform's role-based access control (RBAC) system ensures precise, tailored permissions for OT operations. It uses OAuth and API key management to verify user and device identities, safeguarding sensitive operational data. Additionally, DreamFactory supports server-side scripting with languages like Python, PHP, NodeJS, and V8JS, enabling custom security logic and data transformation rules. This makes it easier to integrate with older industrial systems. To enhance configuration management and ensure transparency, the platform also generates Swagger API documentation for all data-sharing interfaces automatically.

Automated Governance with DreamFactory

DreamFactory goes beyond its core features by automating governance processes, reducing the need for manual intervention. It offers automated API management, schema mapping, and detailed audit logging that integrates seamlessly with ELK stacks. These tools ensure consistent security controls and comprehensive compliance documentation. With built-in GDPR and HIPAA compliance features, the platform helps organizations meet regulatory demands, especially in industries handling sensitive data. Moreover, its ability to support unlimited API deployments and high-volume integrations removes licensing constraints, making it suitable for scaling data-sharing architectures.

OT Environment Use Cases

DreamFactory's capabilities offer real-world advantages across various OT sectors. For instance, in manufacturing, the platform creates secure data-sharing links between production line sensors and enterprise resource planning systems. With support for over 20 connectors, including SQL Server and MongoDB, it enables the safe aggregation of real-time production data while maintaining network segmentation as required by ISA-62443.

Utility companies gain significant value from DreamFactory's ability to convert SOAP interfaces to REST APIs. This modernizes legacy SCADA systems without disrupting critical control functions, allowing utilities to adopt advanced security measures and governance practices while maintaining the real-time performance their operations demand.

The platform's flexibility in deployment - whether through Kubernetes, Docker, or Linux - makes it easy to integrate within existing OT network architectures. This is especially useful for organizations needing to maintain air-gapped or highly segmented networks while enabling controlled data sharing with enterprise systems.

Additionally, DreamFactory's server-side scripting supports the creation of custom data validation and sanitization rules, ensuring that harmful data cannot compromise critical control systems. These features align with defense-in-depth strategies recommended by NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443, showing how secure, automated API governance can enhance both operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.

Risk Mitigation and Interoperability Strategies

Risk Assessment and Asset Identification

Start by creating a detailed inventory of all operational technology (OT) assets. This includes everything from older SCADA systems to newer IoT sensors. For each asset, document its network connections, data flows, and how critical it is to safety, production, or business continuity. Include key details like communication protocols, update capabilities, and existing security measures.

Use passive scanning tools and vendor security bulletins to identify vulnerabilities without interrupting operations. Since many OT systems run continuously, this approach ensures that assessments don’t disrupt critical processes while still uncovering potential weaknesses.

Don’t stop at technical risks - review access controls, maintenance procedures, and incident response protocols. Many OT security issues arise from human factors, such as misconfigurations, insufficient training, or bypassed security measures during routine maintenance.

Once you’ve mapped out your assets and risks, the next step is to secure how data flows between systems, particularly through APIs.

Secure API Management Best Practices

Using the insights from your risk assessments, implement strong API management practices to protect OT data exchanges. Start with network segmentation to isolate OT systems. Create multiple security zones with tightly controlled access points between operational and enterprise networks. This setup reduces the risk of widespread security incidents and helps enforce clear data governance.

Strengthen authentication by using multi-factor authentication, device certificates, and API keys for both users and machines. Automate credential rotation and remove unused access to maintain security over time.

Encrypt data both in transit and at rest. Use TLS 1.3 or higher to secure API communications, and protect sensitive operational data with encrypted storage. Manage encryption keys carefully, ensuring they can be rotated without causing disruptions.

Continuous monitoring is essential. Track API activity in real time to detect unusual behavior or potential security breaches. Integrating this monitoring with a security information and event management (SIEM) system helps you connect OT security events with your organization’s broader security efforts.

Rate limiting and throttling are also key to protecting OT systems. These controls prevent systems from being overwhelmed by excessive API requests, whether caused by legitimate applications or malicious denial-of-service attacks.

Risk Mitigation Strategy Comparison

The best results come from combining multiple strategies rather than relying on just one. Network segmentation offers the strongest security foundation but requires significant planning and resources upfront. API gateways strike a good balance between security and ease of implementation, making them an excellent starting point for many organizations.

For those with advanced security programs, zero trust architectures provide comprehensive protection but demand significant changes to infrastructure and processes. Meanwhile, encrypted communications are easy to implement and offer strong security with minimal disruption, making them a must-have.

As OT environments become more connected, continuous monitoring grows increasingly important. Quickly detecting and responding to security incidents can mean the difference between a minor issue and a major disruption. Regular security assessments ensure your defenses stay effective as systems evolve.

Finally, don’t overlook the human side of security. Staff training and incident response planning are essential to complement technical measures. Even the best technologies can fail without well-trained personnel and clear response protocols. These strategies require ongoing effort but deliver long-term benefits, creating a layered security approach that reduces risks while improving interoperability in OT environments.

Conclusion: Maintaining Compliance and Future-Ready OT Governance

NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443 Key Takeaways

The NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443 standards lay a solid groundwork for securing operational technology (OT) environments while enabling seamless data sharing. Together, these frameworks address the unique challenges of OT systems, ensuring both security and operational reliability.

NIST 800-82 focuses on structured risk management, helping organizations pinpoint vulnerabilities and implement the right controls. On the other hand, ISA-62443 provides detailed technical guidance, including a zone-based security model and a lifecycle approach tailored for industrial automation.

The best results come from combining both standards. NIST 800-82's risk management framework can guide strategic decisions, while ISA-62443's technical specifications provide the tools needed for effective implementation. This dual approach creates a strong governance structure, safeguarding sensitive data without compromising the performance and reliability that industrial operations demand.

Using these principles, automation tools can simplify compliance and improve security.

Future-Proofing with DreamFactory

DreamFactory builds on these established standards by automating compliance and securing data sharing in increasingly connected OT environments. As digital transformation accelerates, automation becomes a critical tool for scaling compliance and security efforts. DreamFactory’s Data AI Gateway platform addresses this challenge by automating the creation of secure REST APIs for any database, including those commonly found in OT systems.

With features aligned to NIST 800-82 and ISA-62443 standards, DreamFactory delivers robust security through role-based access control (RBAC), API key management, and OAuth integration. These features ensure precise access control, while auto-generated Swagger API documentation provides transparency and auditability for data sharing processes.

The platform also supports server-side scripting with Python, PHP, NodeJS, and V8JS, enabling organizations to implement custom security logic and data transformation rules. This capability is especially important in OT environments, where data often requires preprocessing before it can be securely shared across networks.

DreamFactory’s support for over 20 connectors, including databases frequently used in industrial settings, allows organizations to standardize API management across various OT systems. This standardization simplifies governance and reduces the complexity of managing multiple security protocols for different data sources.

Additionally, DreamFactory offers deployment flexibility across Kubernetes, Docker, and Linux environments. This adaptability ensures seamless integration with existing OT infrastructure, minimizing the need for disruptive architectural changes - an essential consideration for industrial operations where downtime must be avoided.

By automating API generation and management, DreamFactory frees organizations to focus on strategic goals rather than technical details. This approach not only strengthens security and compliance but also accelerates digital transformation efforts, helping industrial organizations stay competitive in today’s fast-evolving markets.

Combining established security standards with automation tools like DreamFactory creates a governance framework that can evolve with changing threats and regulatory demands while supporting the operational efficiency that industrial organizations rely on.

Getting Started in ICS/OT Cyber Security - 20+ Hours - Part 9 (Industry Standards & Regulations)

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