Full Report
UL Solutions is now accepting product submittals for ISASecure certification.
Analysis Summary
# Regulation/Compliance: ISASecure Cybersecurity Conformance Program
## Overview
This is a summary of the ISASecure program, a globally recognized conformance scheme based on the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards, designed to provide assurance regarding the cybersecurity of Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS). The development highlights the accreditation of UL Solutions as a Certification Body to issue these certifications. The program certifies both off-the-shelf control system products and supplier development practices.
## Key Details
- Issuing Authority: International Society of Automation (ISA) / ISASecure organization.
- Effective Date: ISASecure has been conducting certifications for products and supplier practices since 2010. The *new* ACSSA assessment scheme is slated for release in Q3 2025.
- Jurisdiction: Global (as it is an international standard).
- Status: In Effect (Existing Certification Program); New Scheme Proposed/Upcoming (ACSSA).
## Requirements
### Mandatory Requirements
1. **Product Certification:** Control system products must conform to the consensus cybersecurity standards defined within the ISA/IEC 62443 framework to achieve the ISASecure designation.
2. **Supplier Practices Certification:** Documentation and adherence to defined supplier development practices are required for certification.
3. **Asset Owner Assessment (Future - Q3 2025):** The upcoming ACSSA scheme will mandate evaluation of asset owners' control systems against specific parts of ISA/IEC 62443 (specifically 62443-2-1, 2-4, 3-2, and 3-3).
### Recommended Practices
1. **Voluntary Certification:** While compliance with ISA/IEC 62443 is generally recommended for IACS security, achieving the ISASecure trademark is a voluntary scheme intended for market differentiation and user confidence.
## Affected Organizations
- Industries: Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS) manufacturers and suppliers; ultimately impacting Asset Owners operating critical infrastructure systems.
- Organization Size: Not specified, though key supporters include major global industrial firms.
- Geographic Scope: Global.
## Compliance Timeline
- **Since 2010:** Certification available for control system products and supplier development practices.
- **Q3 2025:** Scheduled release of the **ACSSA** assessment scheme, evaluating asset owner control systems.
## Implementation Guidance
### Assessment Phase
- Organizations seeking certification must engage an accredited Certification Body (e.g., UL Solutions) to perform the necessary evaluations against the ISASecure specifications.
### Implementation Phase
- Suppliers must ensure their product design and development lifecycle adheres to the security requirements mandated by the relevant ISA/IEC 62443 standards.
### Validation Phase
- Successful validation results in the granting of the ISASecure designation/trademark, signifying conformance to industry consensus standards.
## Technical Requirements
The core technical requirements are derived directly from the **ISA/IEC 62443 series of cybersecurity standards**, covering:
1. Conformance of off-the-shelf control system products.
2. Conformity of asset owner OT cybersecurity practices (via the ACSSA scheme focusing on ISA/IEC 62443-2-1, 2-4, 3-2, and 3-3).
## Penalties & Enforcement
The provided text is focused on accreditation and certification, not regulatory enforcement.
- **Fines/Penalties:** Not specified in the context of this summary, as ISASecure is a voluntary conformance scheme rather than a government-mandated regulation with associated legal penalties.
- **Enforcement:** Enforcement is managed through the certification scheme itself; failure to maintain conformance could result in the revocation of the ISASecure designation.
## Related Standards
- **ISA/IEC 62443 Series:** This is the foundational consensus standard set upon which the ISASecure program is built.
## Resources
- Official Documentation: ISA/IEC 62443 standards documentation (purchased via ISA).
- Guidance Documents: Information regarding the ISASecure process is administered by ISA and its accredited Certification Bodies (like UL Solutions).
- Tools: N/A (Certification bodies provide assessment tools).
## Practical Recommendations
1. **For Suppliers of IACS:** Engage with accredited Certification Bodies (like UL Solutions) to seek ISASecure certification to differentiate products based on established security standards.
2. **For Asset Owners (Upcoming):** Prepare systems and documentation in anticipation of the Q3 2025 release of the ACSSA scheme to ensure conformance with ISA/IEC 62443-2-1, 2-4, 3-2, and 3-3.
3. **Baseline Security:** Even without formal certification, organizations operating IACS should adopt the ISA/IEC 62443 framework as a best-practice standard for mitigating cyber risks in industrial environments.