In this episode of The Deep Dive, we examine one of the most pressing challenges in industrial cybersecurity — securing remote access in operational technology (OT) environments. As Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) drive greater connectivity across geographically dispersed sites, remote access has become essential for maintenance and efficiency — but it also introduces significant risk.
This discussion explores the balance between operational efficiency and security, comparing traditional VPN-based methods such as IPSec and OpenVPN with the modern zero-trust remote access (ZTRAS) model.
Key topics include:
- The security trade-offs of IPSec and OpenVPN in OT environments
- Why traditional VPNs often fail to enforce least privilege or fine-grained access control
- How zero trust transforms the security model with continuous verification and micro-segmentation
- The unique requirements of OT — availability, safety, and compliance with IEC 62443
- The benefits and implementation challenges of ZTRAS solutions, such as IT4Automation’s ZTRAS service
We highlight how zero trust principles — “never trust, always verify” — can dramatically strengthen security for critical systems by enforcing identity-based access, continuous monitoring, and least privilege at the asset level.
Key question:
As OT and IT continue to converge, how can organisations enable efficient remote maintenance while maintaining the integrity, safety, and reliability of their operations?
This episode is essential for professionals in manufacturing, utilities, energy, and critical infrastructure seeking to modernise their cybersecurity strategy and adopt a proactive, zero-trust approach.