IEC 62443 Industrial Cybersecurity Standard

IEC 62443 divides security levels into SL 1 to SL 4. SL 1 protects against unintentional attacks (design flaws). SL 2 guards against low-skill intentional attacks (general hackers). SL 3 defends against moderate-skill intentional attacks (professionals). SL 4 counters high-skill attacks (nation-state threats). Organizations should determine their target SL based on business risk assessment.

ISO 27001 is an information security management system standard applicable to IT environments across all organizations. IEC 62443 specifically targets industrial automation and control systems (OT/ICS environments), focusing on production line safety, equipment functional safety, and industrial communication protocol security. The two standards are complementary, not substitutes.

Key industries in Taiwan needing IEC 62443 include electronic manufacturers (EMS/ODM/OEM) producing connected products for European brands, industrial control system suppliers (SCADA/PLC/HMI manufacturers), automotive electronics system vendors (requiring TISAX/ISO 21434 compliance), and equipment suppliers for Taiwan's critical infrastructure (power, water, transportation).