What is IEC 62443?
IEC 62443 Industrial Cybersecurity Standard
IEC 62443 is the leading international standard for the cybersecurity of Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS), defining a risk-based framework of zones, conduits, and security levels for asset owners, integrators, and product suppliers.
Zones, conduits, and security levels
IEC 62443 segments a control system into zones (groups of assets with shared security requirements) connected by conduits (controlled communication paths), each assigned a target Security Level (SL 1–4). This contains threats and limits lateral movement without disrupting operations.
Why OT needs its own standard
OT prioritises availability and safety, runs legacy protocols, and cannot tolerate IT-style patching or scanning on live processes. IEC 62443 provides an OT-appropriate framework that Pontis applies to harden SCADA, BMS, and DCS environments.
Frequently asked questions
IEC 62443 vs NIST — what's the difference?+
NIST frameworks are broad cybersecurity guidance; IEC 62443 is purpose-built for industrial control systems with concrete concepts (zones, conduits, security levels) tailored to OT availability and safety needs.
Pontis Systems Engineering
Controls & Critical Infrastructure Engineering Team
The Pontis Systems engineering team designs, integrates, and commissions BMS, SCADA, data-center, and industrial-automation systems across Africa. As a Schneider Electric EcoXpert™ certified partner and Digital Realty delivery partner, the team works to global standards on mission-critical infrastructure.
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