Compliance IEC 62443
As industrial systems become increasingly interconnected and digitized, the need to implement robust cybersecurity measures becomes crucial. Industrial control systems are particularly vulnerable to cyber threats, given their critical role in managing essential and, in many cases, critical operations. To help organizations identify and mitigate these threats, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has introduced the IEC 62443 series of standards.
What is it, what is it for?
IEC 62443 is a series of international standards developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to address cybersecurity in industrial automation and control systems (IACS). These standards are designed to provide a comprehensive framework to help protect these systems against cyber threats.
Purpose of IEC 62443
Industrial Systems Security: Provides guidelines and requirements to protect industrial control systems against unauthorized access and cyber-attacks. This includes the protection of networks, devices and software that control industrial processes.
Risk Mitigation: Helps organizations identify, assess and mitigate cybersecurity risks in their industrial control infrastructures. This is essential to ensure operational continuity and facility security.
Best Practice Standards: Establishes best practice standards for the design, implementation and management of cybersecurity in industrial environments. This includes vulnerability management, incident response and supply chain security management.
Compatibility and Conformance: Facilitates compatibility and conformance with other security standards and regulations, which helps organizations align with international best practices and comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
IEC 62443 Key Components
IEC 62443 is an international cybersecurity standard focused on securing Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS). It offers a risk-based, lifecycle-oriented framework for managing cybersecurity across industrial environments and involves all key stakeholders — including asset owners, integrators, service providers, and product suppliers.
The standard is structured into four main categories:
- General (IEC 62443-1): Provides foundational concepts, including terminology, reference models (such as zones and conduits), and the overarching principles applied throughout the standard.
- Policies and Procedures (IEC 62443-2): Defines cybersecurity program requirements from an organizational perspective, targeting asset owners and service providers, and focusing on governance, policies, and process maturity.
- System-Level Requirements (IEC 62443-3): Covers secure design and integration of industrial control systems, with guidance on risk assessment, security levels, and system-level security requirements to ensure resilient architectures.
- Component-Level Requirements (IEC 62443-4): Specifies requirements for product security and secure development lifecycle (SDL) practices, establishing technical security capabilities for IACS components.
IEC 62443 also introduces Security Levels (SL1 to SL4), allowing organizations to tailor cybersecurity controls based on the capability of potential threat actors, aligning protection strategies with the specific risk profile of their operational environment.
How does Orbik help you?
Orbik helps you with compliance with IEC 62443 standards, especially 62443-4-2. This standard responds to the need for secure components, to ensure industrial cybersecurity.