Security News > 2021 > October > Air gaps have been 'shattered’, says new Indian policy on power sector security

India has announced a new security policy for its power sector and specified a grade of isolation it says exceeds that offered by air gaps.

"The much hyped air gap myth between information technology and operational technology systems now stands shattered," the policy states, before going on to offer a slightly odd definition of an air gap.

The first item in the new policy is "Hard isolation of their OT systems from any internet facing IT system".

If the OT kit at a power player must communicate with the outside world, it should happen over optic fibre and preferably over POWERTEL - a carrier operated by government owned electricity transmission company Power Grid Corporation of India.

One item in the policy to watch is the requirement to use only products deemed to come from "Trusted sources", as that list appears not to have been created before the policy directive was issued.

The policy applies to system integrators, equipment manufacturers, and even hardware and software OEMs that serve India's power supply system.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/10/08/india_power_sector_infosec_policy/