Secure Remote Access

Indispensable, but also one of the biggest risks in OT.

Remote access has become virtually indispensable in modern OT environments. Vendors perform maintenance remotely, engineers support multiple locations simultaneously, and external specialists assist with troubleshooting, updates, and optimizations.

At the same time, remote access poses one of the greatest risks in industrial cybersecurity.

Many cyber incidents in OT are not caused by sophisticated malware, but rather by inadequately secured external connections, permanently active access, or a lack of control over who has access to critical systems and when.

Secure Remote Access is therefore not just about connectivity, but above all about control, visibility, and manageability.

Secure access without disrupting operations

OT environments have different requirements than traditional office automation. Availability and business continuity are key. Security measures must therefore not only be secure but also practical to implement within operational processes.

OTconnect helps organizations securely set up remote access for:

  • suppliers;
  • maintenance contractors;
  • external engineers;
  • internal administrators;
  • and temporary support.

Controlled access is central to this approach: access only when necessary, only to the appropriate systems, and with full transparency for the organization itself.

Greater control over external access

In many industrial environments, external connections have grown organically over the years. VPN connections remain active at all times, accounts are shared, or suppliers have broader access than necessary.

This makes it difficult to keep track of:

  • who has access;
  • which systems are accessible;
  • when access is active;
  • and what actions are performed.

A well-designed, secure remote access solution helps organizations make these risks more manageable.

To that end, the following can be used, among other things:

  • strong authentication;
  • role-based access;
  • temporary or approved sessions;
  • session recording;
  • auditing and logging;
  • and segmentation of access to specific systems or zones.

Support for suppliers and our own engineers

Secure Remote Access isn’t just intended for external parties. Internal engineers and administrators are also increasingly in need of secure remote access.

In addition, there is a growing need within industrial organizations to make data securely available for:

  • analysis;
  • monitoring;
  • process optimization;
  • support;
  • and centralized management environments.

Making these environments securely accessible requires an approach that takes into account both cybersecurity and operational continuity.

From Loose Connections to Managed Access

OTconnect helps organizations design, implement, and manage secure remote access solutions for OT environments.

Depending on the situation, this can range from:

  • replacing existing VPN infrastructures;
  • centralizing external access;
  • improving supplier management;
  • to fully managed remote access solutions.

In doing so, we look not only at technology, but also at processes, responsibilities, and practical feasibility within the organization.

Support for NIS2 and IEC 62443

Regulations and standards are imposing increasingly stringent requirements on external access to critical environments. Both NIS2 and IEC 62443 emphasize:

  • access control;
  • authentication;
  • logging;
  • segmentation;
  • and verifiable control measures.

A well-designed, secure remote access solution helps organizations better manage risks associated with external access and be better prepared for audits and compliance issues.

Practical OT Cybersecurity

Secure Remote Access must be secure, but it must also remain practical for operations, maintenance, and support. That is why OTconnect has opted for a practical approach that aligns with the realities of industrial environments.

Whether it involves an initial assessment, improving existing access, or implementing a fully manageable remote access solution, OTconnect helps organizations make remote access more secure, transparent, and controllable.

Ready to get a handle on your OT environment?

OTconnect helps organizations with practical OT cybersecurity solutions related to monitoring, secure remote access, segmentation, and cyber resilience.