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NERC Compliance

The NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) compliance guidelines serve as the backbone for ensuring the security and reliability of the electrical grid. In the face of growing cyber threats, Network Access Control (NAC) plays a pivotal role in supporting NERC compliance from a cybersecurity perspective. By implementing NAC, organizations strengthen their defenses, mitigate risks, and safeguard critical infrastructure, aligning with NERC’s stringent security requirements.

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Access Control

The Portnox Cloud delivers unique access controls, including microsegmentation, for users across all access layers, including wire, wireless and VPN. The platform verifies the identity and security posture of devices and users before granting access to the network. Such capabilities help to prevent unauthorized access and potential security breaches, which is a key objective of the NERC CIP framework.

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Asset Inventory

Portnox delivers an accurate inventory of devices connected to the network, and provides visibility into the types of devices, their configurations, and their compliance status. This information is crucial for implementing the asset management requirements of the NERC CIP framework, which includes identifying critical cyber assets, tracking changes, and monitoring the cybersecurity posture of those assets.

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Continuous Monitoring

Portnox’s zero trust access control platform can continuously monitor all devices and users connected to the network, checking for compliance with security policies and detecting any anomalies or suspicious activities. This aligns with the NERC CIP requirements for monitoring and logging activities on critical systems and detecting potential cybersecurity incidents.

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Incident Response

NAC can contribute to incident response efforts by providing real-time information about the devices and users on the network. In the event of a cybersecurity incident or a breach, NAC can help in identifying affected devices, isolating them from the network, and facilitating incident investigation and containment activities, which is consistent with the NERC CIP framework’s incident response requirements.

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Security Compliance

NAC solutions often offer features like network segmentation, encryption, and policy enforcement, which can help organizations meet the security controls outlined in the NERC CIP framework. By ensuring that devices and users adhere to security policies and standards, NAC assists in maintaining compliance with NERC CIP regulations.

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NERC COMPLIANCE

FAQs

The NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) standard of security refers to a set of regulations and guidelines developed by NERC to ensure the reliability and security of the bulk power system in North America. NERC is a nonprofit organization that oversees the operation and maintenance of the electric power grid in the United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico.

The primary standard related to security is the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards, which are designed to protect the cyber and physical security of the bulk power system. The CIP standards establish requirements for the identification and protection of critical assets, the detection and mitigation of cyber threats, and the response and recovery from security incidents.

The NERC CIP standards consist of several versions, with the latest version being CIP version 5. These standards outline specific requirements for entities responsible for operating and maintaining the bulk power system, such as utilities, transmission companies, and generation companies. The standards cover areas such as access controls, incident response, security monitoring, personnel training, and security awareness.

Compliance with the NERC CIP standards is mandatory for entities that are classified as “critical infrastructure protection” (CIP) entities, which include most utilities and companies involved in the operation of the bulk power system. NERC oversees the enforcement of these standards and conducts audits and assessments to ensure compliance.

The NERC CIP standards establish requirements for cybersecurity in the electric power industry. These standards are designed to ensure the reliability and security of the bulk power system in North America. Here are some key requirements outlined in the NERC CIP standards:

  • Identification and Protection of Critical Cyber Assets (CIP-002): Entities subject to the NERC CIP standards must identify and document their critical cyber assets (CCAs) and the associated electronic access points (EAPs). They must establish security perimeters around CCAs and implement security measures to protect them from unauthorized access.
  • Security Management Controls (CIP-003): This standard requires entities to develop and implement a cybersecurity program to manage the security of their CCAs. The program must include policies, processes, and procedures for identifying, assessing, and mitigating cybersecurity risks.
  • Personnel and Training (CIP-004): Entities must have a program to ensure that personnel with authorized cyber or physical access to critical cyber assets are trained and competent to perform their assigned duties. This includes cybersecurity awareness training, role-based training, and incident response training.
  • Electronic Security Perimeter (CIP-005): Entities must establish and maintain an electronic security perimeter to protect the CCAs. This involves implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access control mechanisms to control access to the electronic security perimeter.
  • Physical Security of Critical Cyber Assets (CIP-006): This standard requires entities to implement physical security measures to protect their CCAs. This includes access controls, monitoring, and surveillance of physical areas where CCAs are located.
  • Systems Security Management (CIP-007): Entities must define and document security controls and processes to protect against malicious code, such as malware and viruses. They must also establish change management processes to ensure that changes to critical systems are authorized and properly tested.
  • Incident Response Planning (CIP-008): Entities must develop and implement an incident response plan that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a cybersecurity incident. The plan should include procedures for detecting, responding to, and reporting incidents.
  • Recovery Plans for Critical Cyber Assets (CIP-009): Entities must have recovery plans in place to restore the CCAs following a cybersecurity incident. These plans should address system restoration, data backup, and testing of the recovery procedures.

It’s important to note that these are general descriptions of the requirements outlined in the NERC CIP standards. The actual standards are more detailed and comprehensive, covering additional aspects of cybersecurity in the electric power industry. Entities subject to these standards should refer to the official NERC CIP standards documents for specific requirements and guidance.

The specific requirements for network access control are outlined in the CIP-005 standard, which focuses on the establishment and maintenance of an electronic security perimeter (ESP). Here are some key elements of network access control required by NERC:

  • Electronic Security Perimeter (ESP): Entities must define and implement an ESP to protect their CCAs. The ESP serves as a boundary that segregates the bulk power system from other networks, such as corporate networks or the Internet.
  • Logical Access Controls: Entities must implement logical access controls to regulate access to the ESP. This includes implementing mechanisms such as firewalls, routers, access control lists (ACLs), or similar technologies to control inbound and outbound communications between the ESP and external networks.
  • Electronic Access Point (EAP) Identification and Documentation: Entities must identify and document the EAPs, which are the network devices or interfaces that provide access to the ESP. EAPs should be included in the inventory of critical cyber assets.
  • Monitoring and Logging: Entities are required to monitor and log activity at EAPs and within the ESP to detect and respond to security incidents. Monitoring should include activities such as analyzing network traffic, reviewing logs, and implementing intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS).
  • Account Management: Entities must establish and enforce account management practices to control access to the ESP. This includes implementing strong password controls, timely disabling or removing inactive accounts, and ensuring that user accounts are only granted the necessary privileges.
  • Remote Access Management: If remote access to the ESP is allowed, entities must implement secure remote access controls, including secure authentication methods, encryption, and secure protocols. Remote access should be limited to authorized personnel with a legitimate business need.
  • Change Control and Configuration Management: Entities must establish change control and configuration management processes for network devices and systems within the ESP. This includes documenting and reviewing changes, performing configuration backups, and testing changes to ensure they do not introduce vulnerabilities.
  • Incident Response and Reporting: Entities must have incident response procedures in place to address network access control incidents. This includes documenting and reporting incidents, conducting investigations, and implementing corrective actions to prevent future incidents.

It’s important to note that these are general descriptions of the requirements for network access control outlined in the NERC CIP-005 standard. The actual standard provides more detailed requirements and guidance. Entities subject to the NERC CIP standards should refer to the official NERC documents for the specific requirements and implementation details.

Here are some key aspects of endpoint security compliance within the NERC CIP standards:

  • Identification and Protection of Critical Cyber Assets (CIP-002): This standard requires entities to identify and document their CCAs, which may include endpoints such as servers, workstations, and network devices. By identifying these critical assets, entities can prioritize their protection and apply appropriate security controls.
  • Security Management Controls (CIP-003): This standard establishes the requirement for entities to develop and implement a cybersecurity program. Within this program, entities must establish policies, processes, and procedures to manage and protect their CCAs, including endpoints. This includes conducting risk assessments, vulnerability assessments, and implementing security controls to mitigate identified risks.
  • Personnel and Training (CIP-004): Endpoint security compliance is supported through personnel training requirements. Entities must have a training program to ensure that personnel with authorized access to CCAs, including those responsible for managing endpoints, are trained and competent to perform their assigned duties. This includes training on endpoint security best practices, secure configuration management, and incident response.
  • Systems Security Management (CIP-007): This standard addresses the need for implementing security controls to protect against malicious code, including on endpoints. Entities must define and document security controls and processes to prevent, detect, and mitigate the introduction of malware and other forms of malicious code. This includes implementing and maintaining up-to-date antivirus and antimalware solutions on endpoints.
  • Incident Response Planning (CIP-008): Endpoint security is addressed in the incident response planning requirements. Entities must develop and implement an incident response plan that outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a cybersecurity incident, which may involve compromised endpoints. The plan should include procedures for detecting, responding to, and recovering from incidents affecting endpoints.
  • Recovery Plans for Critical Cyber Assets (CIP-009): In the event of a cybersecurity incident affecting endpoints, entities are required to have recovery plans in place to restore CCAs, including endpoints. These plans should address the restoration of system functionality, data backup and recovery, and testing of recovery procedures.

While NERC’s standards provide a framework for addressing endpoint security compliance, it’s important to note that the specific implementation details may vary based on the entity’s risk assessments, size, and operational characteristics. Entities subject to the NERC CIP standards should refer to the official NERC documents and guidance for comprehensive requirements and recommendations related to endpoint security compliance.

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