In the modern industrial landscape, operational technology (OT) is no longer isolated. While connectivity drives efficiency, it also introduces unprecedented risks. The publication of the German Technical Rule for Operational Safety(TRBS) 1115 Part 1 explicitly addresses this reality, setting stringent guidelines for the cybersecurity of safety-relevant measurement, control, and regulation (MSR) systems.
As an OT cybersecurity solution provider, we at Rhebo understand that bridging the gap between functional safety and cybersecurity can be daunting. Here is our breakdown of what Germanys TRBS 1115 means for your facility and how you can achieve compliance while maintaining operational continuity.
The Core Challenge: Cyber Threats Are Safety Threats
Historically, industrial safety focused on mechanical failures or operator errors. Today, cyber threats can actively prevent a safety-relevant MSR system from performing its safety function, or even introduce entirely new physicalhazards.
TRBS 1115 recognizes that due to increasing networking, these critical systems are prime targets. The regulation mandates that employers must now incorporate cybersecurity into their standard hazard assessments. A successfulattack could compromise your system's availability (e.g., blocking essential safety functions), integrity (unauthorized manipulation of sensor data), or confidentiality.
Key Compliance Pillars Under TRBS 1115-1
To protect employees and the environment, TRBS 1115-1 outlines several vital organizational and technical measures. Here are the primary defenses you must implement:
- Network Segmentation: Your IT/OT environments and safety-relevant MSR systems must be segmented based on their specific protection needs. Network participants should only be able to establish connections that are strictlynecessary for their function, ideally through physical separation or logical segmentation like VLANs.
- Access Control & Hardening: The functionality of hardware and software must be reduced to the absolute minimum required for the task. This means deactivating unused hardware interfaces, removing unnecessary software, and blocking unauthorized communication services. Access must be strictly limited to authorized personnel with secure authentication methods.
- Emergency Management: You must establish a clear emergency plan to ensure that a compromised MSR system does not endanger your workforce. This includes procedures for shutting down systems using non-digital infrastructure (like manual emergency stops) and ensuring all traces of an attack are removed before restarting.
- Continuous Monitoring: To detect cybersecurity incidents in a timely manner, monitoring systems must be installed at critical points within the IT/OT environment, such as at segment boundaries.
The Rhebo Approach: Mastering the Monitoring Mandate
As an OT cybersecurity provider, Rhebo is uniquely positioned to help you fulfill the stringent monitoring and visibility requirements of TRBS 1115-1. The regulation emphasizes the need to monitor the integrity of your safety systemsand ensure no unauthorized communication occurs. Furthermore, automated monitoring systems can be utilized to routinely check the effectiveness of your cybersecurity measures by detecting unusual or unauthorized activities in yournetworks.
By implementing robust industrial anomaly detection and monitoring solutions, you can effortlessly align with TRBS 1115 by:
- Gaining full visibility into your network to verify that your segmentation strategies are actually working.
- Detecting anomalies and unauthorized communications in real-time, fulfilling the regulatory requirement to continuously monitor IT/OT environments.
- Accelerating Incident Response, providing you with the exact data needed to execute your emergency management plans safely and effectively.
Securing the Full Lifecycle
TRBS 1115 makes it clear that cybersecurity is not a one-time project; it must be maintained throughout the entire safety lifecycle of the MSR system. From planning and realization to regular testing of effectiveness and monitoringduring operation, security is a continuous process.
Don't wait for an incident to test your defenses. Securing your safety-related control systems is no longer just an IT best practice; it is a regulatory expectation for operational safety.
Contact Rhebo today to learn how our continuous OT monitoring solutions can help you meet the requirements of Germany’s TRBS 1115-1 and safeguard your critical infrastructure.
