What is meant by “Asset Inventory” in zone characteristics?

“Asset Inventory” refers to a comprehensive catalog of all physical and logical assets within an organization. This includes hardware assets such as servers, computers, and networking equipment, as well as software applications, databases, and even critical data. The purpose of maintaining an asset inventory is to have a clear understanding of what assets exist in the environment, their specifications, and their locations. This information is crucial for effective risk management, security assessments, and compliance with regulations.

In the context of industrial cybersecurity, an accurate asset inventory enables organizations to identify vulnerabilities, assess the security posture of each asset, and prioritize security investments based on the criticality of each asset. This approach facilitates better decision-making for maintenance, updates, and various security measures aimed at protecting both physical and digital assets. Having this inventory aligns with best practices for managing cybersecurity risks in operational technology environments.