Digital systems now connect every part of industrial operations, from traditional IT networks to operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS). This integration creates new security challenges that traditional access controls can’t handle. Manufacturing plants, utilities, and critical infrastructure now face increased cyber risks as their systems become more interconnected.
According to Gartner’s 2023 Market Guide for Operational Technology Security, “By 2027, 75% of security teams will have on-boarded at least five tools to manage cyber-physical systems (CPS) security in operational, production or mission-critical environments, which is a major increase compared with one or two they might use today.“
Physical Operations Need Different Protection
OT and ICS systems directly control physical equipment and industrial processes, making their security needs distinct from IT systems. A security incident in these environments can halt production, damage equipment, or create safety hazards.
Key differences include:
- Legacy protocols without security features (Modbus, DNP3, BACnet)
- Systems running outdated operating systems that can’t be patched
- Changes require extensive testing to avoid disrupting operations
- Equipment lifecycles of 15-20 years vs 3-5 years for IT
- Downtime directly impacts physical operations and safety
- Real-time operation requirements limit security options
Recent data shows that 54% of US critical infrastructure suppliers reported attempts to control their systems, while 40% faced attempts to shut down operations. The cost of OT security incidents averages $3 million per event.
Remote User Access Amplifies Risk
The rise of remote operations has transformed how organizations manage industrial systems. Third-party vendors, remote employees, and contractors now need direct access to critical OT systems from various locations. This shift from on-site to remote access creates security gaps that traditional tools can’t address.
Major challenges include:
- Remote workers need direct system access from uncontrolled locations
- Third-party vendors require privileged access for support
- VPNs provide excessive network access without granular controls
- Jump servers create new security gaps and attack surfaces
- Standard remote access tools lack OT-specific security features
- Limited ability to track and monitor user activities
- File transfers bypass security controls
- Credential sharing among vendor teams
According to ICS-CERT, cyber investigations in critical manufacturing doubled last year, with remote access as a primary attack vector.
Compliance Gets More Complex
Industrial organizations face mounting regulatory pressure to protect critical infrastructure. Each sector has its own set of requirements, creating a complex web of overlapping standards that security teams must interpret and implement across both IT and OT environments.
Common compliance challenges:
- NERC CIP requirements for the energy sector
- ISA/IEC 62443 standards for industrial automation
- TSA directives for pipeline operators
- FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for pharmaceutical manufacturing
- DOE cybersecurity guidelines for critical infrastructure
Common compliance challenges:
- Detailed documentation of access controls and permissions
- Real-time monitoring and alerting capabilities
- Regular access reviews and updates
- Secure file transfer verification
- Comprehensive audit trails
- Multi-factor authentication requirements
- Separation of duties between IT and OT
- Change management procedures
Security Teams Lack OT Knowledge & Training
The rapid convergence of IT and OT has exposed a significant skills shortage. Most security professionals specialize in either IT or OT, but few understand both domains. This knowledge gap leads to security blind spots and increases risk when implementing new controls.
The skills gap between IT and OT security creates additional risks:
- IT security teams don’t understand industrial protocols and operational requirements
- OT teams prioritize system availability over security controls
- Limited expertise in securing legacy industrial systems
- Different toolsets fragment visibility across environments
- Coordinating IT-OT security responses is difficult
- Training and documentation often don’t exist
- Security tools may disrupt industrial processes
- Incident response procedures differ between IT and OT
The Ponemon Institute found that 63% of organizations lack staff with proper IT-OT security skills.
A New Unified Approach to Secure User Access
This shift matches Gartner’s 2024 CISO Leadership findings: “For the first time in two years, User Access, IAM & Zero Trust has replaced Cloud Security, Strategy, & Architecture as the number one functional priority for CISOs.“
Hyperport addresses these challenges by combining Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Privileged Access Management (PAM), and Secure Remote Access (SRA) in a unified platform. This consolidated approach:
- Provides granular access control across IT and OT systems
- Supports industrial protocols and legacy systems
- Enables secure third-party remote access
- Creates comprehensive audit trails
- Monitors user activities in real-time
- Protects file transfers between systems
- Integrates with existing security tools
- Maintains operational requirements
Rather than deploying multiple-point solutions, Hyperport delivers a complete, secure user access platform that serves multiple teams and third-party users while closing security gaps. The platform adds modern security controls without disrupting critical industrial operations – helping organizations maintain security and operational efficiency across their converged IT-OT environments.