Every day, critical infrastructure systems, particularly those in the energy sector, face relentless attacks. From power plants generating electricity to the grids distributing it, these systems are essential to daily life yet remain a prime target for cyber adversaries seeking vulnerabilities to exploit. For utilities governed by NERC CIP regulations, the stakes are even higher, with strict compliance requirements and severe penalties for falling short.
Traditional patch management is a critical line of defense, but on its own, it’s not enough. Safeguarding Bulk Electric Systems (BES) demands a forward-thinking, risk-based approach to vulnerability management. To stay ahead of adversaries, organizations must focus on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. This is where Foxguard comes in. With a powerful combination of expertise, integrated patch management, and the Cyberwatch vulnerability platform, Foxguard simplifies NERC CIP compliance, strengthens security, and builds lasting resilience.
The Escalating Cyber Threat to Critical Infrastructure
The rise of ransomware and sophisticated cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure is no longer a hypothetical threat. In 2024 alone, over two-thirds of utilities faced ransomware attacks, with 49% of breaches stemming from exploited vulnerabilities. These breaches disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, and put entire communities at risk.
Analysis of the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalogue reveals that 85% of critical vulnerabilities remain unresolved after 30 days, and 50% are still unpatched at 55 days. Shockingly, even after six months, 20% of vulnerabilities are left unaddressed. This delay opens the door for cyber adversaries, who are becoming more sophisticated in their tactics and relentless in exploiting vulnerabilities in utility systems.
With unpatched vulnerabilities directly responsible for 60% of all data breaches, the numbers speak for themselves. For utilities, it’s not just about protecting infrastructure. It’s a balancing act between meeting the stringent requirements of NERC CIP regulations, whilst consistently addressing vulnerabilities: a task that’s far from simple.
The Challenge of Navigating Compliance & Security in Complex OT Environments
For utilities, maintaining near-perfect uptime in (OT) environments is non-negotiable, yet traditional vulnerability scanning often fails to align with the complexities of OT and IT systems. While these systems are essential for daily operations, they also introduce significant cyber security risks. When you add the stringent demands of NERC CIP regulations to the mix, utilities face a perfect storm of challenges:
Asset Visibility Gaps: Managing thousands of geographically dispersed, diverse assets isn’t easy. Passive monitoring avoids disruption but often lacks the depth needed to meet CIP-002-5.1a requirements.
Vulnerability Management Challenges: Legacy OT systems, vendor dependencies, and resource constraints make identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating vulnerabilities incredibly difficult. Balancing security with operational continuity is an ongoing struggle.
Compliance Pressures: Utilities must meet strict 35-day patch evaluation cycles outlined in CIP-007-6—a narrow window where failure risks fines, audits, and operational disruptions. The patching requirements in the CIP-007-6 reliability standard remain the most frequently violated of the entire NERC CIP framework, reflecting the ongoing struggle utilities face in maintaining compliance while ensuring operational stability.
Adding to these challenges, NERC CIP imposes some of the most severe financial penalties of any regulatory framework in North America, reaching up to $1 million per day, per violation. With most NERC-governed utilities audited on three-year cycles, these fines can quickly escalate to staggering amounts, intensifying pressure to maintain compliance.
In short, utilities are left juggling multiple tools, data silos, and limited resources, all while striving to keep operations running seamlessly. Therein lies the core challenge: How can utilities achieve stringent security and compliance standards without causing operational disruptions, overburdening their teams, or escalating costs?
Why Patching Alone Isn’t Enough
Patch management is foundational for meeting NERC CIP requirements, but it’s not the whole solution. The sheer volume of patches, coupled with new vulnerabilities emerging daily, makes it clear that utilities can’t rely on patching alone. That’s where vulnerability management steps in.
Instead of a reactive patch-only approach, vulnerability management identifies and prioritizes risks based on their criticality and impact, and adopts a strategic framework: Patch Now, Next, or Never.
- Now: This focuses on immediate action, addressing vulnerabilities that pose the highest risk to critical systems. By swiftly applying patches or mitigating measures, utilities can eliminate urgent threats and reduce exposure.
- Next: For vulnerabilities that aren’t an imminent danger, this phase involves remediation planning, detailed risk assessments, and proactive cyber security engagement to ensure future readiness.
- Never: Some vulnerabilities may not require direct patching due to system limitations or operational constraints. In these cases, implementing protective controls ensures the risk is managed without unnecessary disruptions.
By taking this structured approach, utilities can prioritize and focus remediation efforts where they’re most needed, keeping systems secure and operations uninterrupted.
The Powerful Combination of Patch and Vulnerability Management
At Foxguard, we recognize the unique challenges utilities face under NERC CIP compliance. That’s why we’ve integrated our patch management expertise with the Cyberwatch vulnerability management platform to deliver a comprehensive, end-to-end solution.
Cyberwatch consolidates asset inventories, prioritizes vulnerabilities, and provides actionable remediation strategies, all while seamlessly integrating with both IT and OT systems. The result? Clear visibility, reduced risks, and continuous compliance without disrupting your critical operations.
This integrated solution helps utilities meet these challenges head-on by providing a centralized, automated solution for patch management and vulnerability assessment. Our platform consolidates IT and OT security, automates compliance reporting, and ensures that critical vulnerabilities are addressed before they can be exploited.
Key Components of Our Solution
Comprehensive Asset Inventory and Visibility
Know what you’re protecting. Foxguard helps utilities identify, categorize, and monitor BES Cyber Systems, ensuring all critical assets are accounted for, meeting CIP-002-5.1a requirements.
Vulnerability Prioritization and Risk Management
Not all vulnerabilities are equal. Cyberwatch ranks vulnerabilities based on severity and context, enabling you to address the most critical threats first. This targeted approach ensures compliance with CIP-007-6 and minimizes operational downtime.
Patch and Firmware Management
Foxguard securely evaluates, tests, and deploys patches every 35 days, ensuring compliance with CIP-007-6 and CIP-010-2. Our robust supply chain ensures every patch is validated and delivered efficiently.
Secure Software and Patch Integrity
We verify every patch with digital signatures, cryptographic hash checks, and secure delivery channels, meeting CIP-010-2 and CIP-013 standards. You can trust that no malicious or tampered patches reach production environments.
Automated Compliance Reporting
Foxguard automates compliance reporting with detailed, actionable reports every 35 days. Our purpose-built platform simplifies patch workflows, consolidates tools, and ensures efficient adherence to NERC CIP standards.
Why Choose Foxguard?
With over 800 customers across industries like energy, nuclear, and transportation, Foxguard has proven expertise in securing industrial control systems. Our cyber security solutions are built with a strong safety culture and a deep understanding of the unique needs of critical infrastructure. Foxguard provides:
- A unified platform to reduce visibility gaps and simplify workflows
- Proven compliance with NERC CIP standards
- Deep expertise, including partnerships with organizations like the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE)
In 2013, we were awarded a $4.3M cooperative agreement by the DoE under the Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) Program. This four-year project led to the development of our Patch & Update Management Program for IT and OT assets. Following a four-step process: Asset Inventory, Risk Intelligence, Staff Augmentation, and Third-Party Integrations, the program now helps thousands of utilities worldwide improve patching efficiency and enhance cyber security resilience.
By integrating expertise, technology, and proven strategies, Foxguard enables utilities to protect critical assets, streamline operations, and consistently meet NERC CIP requirements, all while minimizing disruption and risk.
Ready to Simplify Compliance and Strengthen Security?
NERC CIP compliance is a critical aspect of securing the energy grid, but it’s just the beginning. Vulnerability management, combined with a robust patch management process, is the key to staying one step ahead of cyber threats. With the Foxguard and Cyberwatch integrated solution, you can streamline your compliance efforts, enhance your cyber security posture, and ensure your systems remain resilient against evolving threats.
Together, we can secure, simplify, and sustain the future of critical infrastructure.
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