As operational technology (OT) systems become more connected, protecting these networks has become a top priority. One effective method to strengthen security and enhance performance is network baselining.
This technique involves creating a reference point that reflects normal network activity, making it easier to spot unusual patterns or potential risks. Despite its significance, the concept of network baselining is often misunderstood. This guide breaks it down, explaining its types, implementation strategies, and its crucial role in both safeguarding and optimizing OT networks.
Network baselining involves monitoring and recording standard network traffic behaviors to understand what “normal” looks like in a specific environment. These baselines can be high-level, such as tracking IP communication between endpoints, or more detailed—capturing data related to protocols, ports, device types, and application behaviors.
Once a baseline is established, it’s easier to detect irregularities that may signal a performance problem or cyber threat, even without using traditional signature-based tools.
Network baselining isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different approaches serve different purposes, depending on the level of insight and control required:
General Network Baseline: Focuses on basic communication statistics like IP flows, bandwidth usage, latency, jitter, packet loss, and throughput. This provides a snapshot of network health and activity over time.
Expected Behavior Baseline (Positive-Space): Tracks allowed interactions between systems, such as communications between known devices or services. This is especially useful for monitoring critical applications.
Prohibited Behavior Baseline (Negative-Space): Identifies network activity that should not happen under any circumstances—for example, unauthorized connections across isolated segments or rogue device communication.
To be truly effective, baselines should be adapted to the specific characteristics of the network. This can include:
Focusing on particular network zones or segments.
Filtering traffic by type, protocol, or role.
Setting unique baselines for individual departments, locations, or applications.
Networks are rarely static. As organizations grow and adopt new technologies, their networks evolve. This makes it difficult to define a fixed “normal” baseline. Common challenges include:
Constant Change: Devices, users, and applications frequently change.
Baseline Decay: A baseline can become outdated quickly if not maintained.
Unpredictable Events: Unforeseen changes in usage or system behavior can disrupt patterns.
To keep your baselines accurate and useful:
Monitor Continuously: Use tools like SolarWinds or PRTG to keep tabs on activity.
Update Regularly: Refresh baseline data periodically.
Use Alerts: Configure alerts to signal performance or behavior deviations.
Effective baselining requires consistent tracking of performance indicators, including:
Bandwidth consumption
Latency and jitter
Packet delivery failures
Data throughput rates
Application-level metrics (especially for mission-critical tools)
When an organization operates across multiple locations, network diversity becomes a complicating factor. Differences in hardware, connectivity, and performance expectations can affect baseline accuracy. To manage this:
Develop individual baselines for each location.
Aggregate data for a global overview.
Use centralized platforms that support multi-site visibility.
Re-establishing a baseline after resolving network problems helps confirm that the issue is fixed and offers a new standard to detect similar issues in the future. It also allows for more proactive monitoring.
Modern network tools help build and maintain baselines by:
Collecting live traffic data
Generating simulated traffic to test limits
Monitoring geographically dispersed environments
Providing dashboards and visual alerts
Once data is collected:
Define acceptable performance limits.
Establish alerts for threshold breaches.
Compare internal benchmarks to industry standards.
Use visual tools for pattern interpretation.
Network baselining plays an important role in early threat identification:
Volume-Based Alerts: Use statistical analysis to spot spikes or drops in traffic.
Pattern Recognition: Identify known attack behaviors (e.g., DDoS, port scans).
Anomaly Detection: Spot activities that fall outside approved parameters.
When things go wrong, a baseline helps by:
Providing a known-good reference point.
Highlighting deviations for quicker root-cause analysis.
Supporting faster, more targeted fixes.
Historical baselines help teams:
Understand long-term behavior trends.
Plan for upgrades or infrastructure changes.
Evaluate performance over time.
Start by:
Identifying goals and available resources.
Selecting appropriate monitoring tools.
Determining which metrics are most critical.
Collecting consistent data before setting benchmarks.
Auditing ensures that your baseline reflects your current environment. This involves:
Automating data collection where possible.
Comparing current performance to past trends.
Adjusting thresholds as network needs evolve.
Automation can simplify the process by:
Monitoring changes in real time.
Scaling across environments.
Freeing up personnel for higher-level tasks.
Network baselining is more than a security tactic—it’s a strategy that supports both resilience and performance. By understanding the types of baselining and tailoring them to your environment, organizations can boost detection capabilities, prevent issues before they arise, and keep operations running smoothly.
Why is baselining essential in OT environments?
It helps pinpoint irregular activities and ensures that network performance remains consistent.
How frequently should baselines be reviewed?
They should be updated regularly, particularly after network changes or incidents.
Is baselining a replacement for other security tools?
No, it’s a complement to traditional defenses.
What are the major implementation obstacles?
Network volatility, remote site integration, and changing traffic patterns.
Does baselining help with compliance?
Yes, it provides visibility and supports regulatory standards like NIST and IEC 62443.
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