Testing IoT/OT Defenses – Red Team, Blue Team & Cyber-Physical Simulations
After compliance comes real validation. In critical infrastructure, security can’t live in spreadsheets—it must be tested under real-world pressure. This chapter dives into red/blue team methodologies, hands-on simulation environments, and how to prepare for the threats you haven’t yet imagined.
Red Team: Offensive Testing in OT
Red teams simulate real-world attackers to test how well your defenses hold up under active exploitation.
Red Team Focus Areas:
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Spear-phishing operators or engineers
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Physical entry to field devices or HMIs
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Spoofing sensors or intercepting PLC communication
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Firmware tampering or rogue device insertion
Tools of the Trade:
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Kali Linux: With OT-specific tools like
modpoll
,mbtget
, andplcscan
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Shodan: For discovering exposed OT assets online
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Metasploit & SCADA modules: For exploiting known ICS/PLC vulnerabilities
Blue Team: Defensive Monitoring & Response
The blue team's role is to detect, contain, and respond to intrusions—ideally before any real damage is done.
Blue Team Priorities:
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Real-time monitoring of ICS/IoT logs
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Behavioral analytics to detect anomalies
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Forensics readiness: Log retention, packet captures
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Segmentation validation: Are zones/conduits truly isolated?
Tools for Defenders:
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Security Onion or Zeek: For OT protocol monitoring
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Splunk or Elastic SIEM: With ICS-specific dashboards
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Tripwire or OSSEC: For integrity monitoring
Cyber-Physical Simulation Environments
Recommended Lab Platforms:
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MiniCPS: Simulates cyber-physical control systems
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GNS3 / EVE-NG: For simulating industrial networks
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Factory I/O + PLCsim: Realistic virtual factory environments
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Cyber Range Labs: Cloud-hosted red/blue battle environments
Lab Tip: Re-create a real-world incident (e.g., Stuxnet) and test your blue team’s detection and recovery capabilities.
Integrating Red/Blue Team into Business Risk
Security testing isn’t just a tech drill—it’s a business continuity practice. Tie outcomes back to operational KPIs:
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How fast can we detect a breach in a critical zone?
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Can operations continue during containment?
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What are the impacts on uptime, safety, and reputation?
Use metrics from exercises to refine playbooks, patch prioritization, and training budgets.
TL;DR: Train for the Threats You Can’t Predict
Red team vs. blue team simulations are the proving grounds for your IoT/OT security program. They surface hidden weaknesses, validate compliance readiness, and prepare your staff for the moment it’s not just a drill.
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