What should an organization do when a critical asset goes End of Life (EOL)?

When a critical asset reaches its End of Life (EOL), an organization should explore upgrade and replacement options. This proactive approach is necessary to ensure that the organization maintains its operational integrity and security posture. Assets that have reached EOL are often no longer supported by the manufacturer, may have outdated technology, and may pose significant risks due to potential vulnerabilities that cannot be mitigated adequately. By considering upgrade and replacement options, the organization can ensure it transitions to a more current and secure solution, thus safeguarding critical infrastructure and aligning with the guidelines outlined in the NERC CIP standards for asset management and protection.

In addition, exploring these options enables organizations to assess the latest technologies and best practices, ensuring that they continue to operate effectively and securely. This is particularly important as technology continuously evolves, and legacy systems can hinder operational efficiencies and expose the organization to cyber threats.

The other choices do not adequately address the critical nature of managing EOL assets. For instance, ignoring the asset until it fails compromises both reliability and security. Documenting only current issues disregards the need for forward planning to prevent future risks. Similarly, merely increasing monitoring without addressing the underlying asset condition will not mitigate the potential for failure or security incidents. Thus, the careful assessment and decision-making regarding