OT and plant security
Secure production and operation without stopping it.
Production cannot stop for security. Security has to work around production.
OT security protects the systems that run production and operations: controllers, drives, operator panels, engineering stations, safety systems, remote access and the networks between them. Unlike office IT, these systems run for decades, cannot be patched at will and control physical processes.
We follow IEC 62443 for asset owners and the proven controls of the industrial security community: an OT-specific incident response plan, a defensible architecture, network visibility, secure remote access and risk-based vulnerability management. We plan every step with your operations team and connect the results to NIS2 where it applies.
Who it is for
- Operators of plants and critical infrastructure
- Manufacturers securing their own production sites
- Utilities and energy operators
- Companies with many service providers using remote access
Where OT is exposed today
The weak points we find most often in plants and utilities. Each one has been used in real attacks on industrial operations.
Access
Remote maintenance
Vendors and integrators connect from outside, often with shared accounts and always-on links.
Network
Flat networks
Without zones and conduits, malware from office IT reaches controllers in minutes.
Visibility
Unknown assets
Many sites have no current inventory of devices, firmware versions and connections.
Legacy
Systems that cannot be patched
Old operating systems and controllers stay in use because replacement means downtime.
Ransomware
IT incidents that stop OT
Many production stops start in office IT and spread because the boundary was not defined.
Suppliers
Integrator and vendor risk
New lines arrive with default passwords and undocumented services unless requirements are set.
Recovery
Backup and restore
Without tested backups of controller logic and configurations, recovery takes weeks.
Rules
NIS2 and KRITIS duties
Operators must prove risk management, reporting and supply chain security.
Start with the controls that matter most
We begin with the controls that reduce most risk in industrial environments, then build the full programme to IEC 62443.
1
OT incident response
A plan that knows the process, the safety systems and who decides to stop.
2
Defensible architecture
Zones and conduits that contain an attack and support visibility.
3
Network visibility
Monitoring of OT traffic so attacks are seen before the process is affected.
4
Secure remote access
Every external connection authenticated, recorded and limited in time.
5
Risk-based vulnerability management
Patch what matters, protect what cannot be patched.
6
Programme and governance
Roles, policies and supplier rules that keep the plant secure over time.
How we help
From the first site visit to a running security programme. Each service has a clear scope and a defined result.
Asset inventory and risk assessment
What you have and where the risk is.
What we do
- Record assets, firmware, networks and remote access paths
- Zones and conduits per IEC 62443-3-2
- Target security levels per zone
You receive
Asset list, zone model, risk register
Gap analysis against IEC 62443 and NIS2
Where current measures fall short.
What we do
- Compare measures with IEC 62443-3-3 system requirements
- Check NIS2 risk management measures
- Rate gaps by risk, cost and downtime
You receive
Gap list, prioritised measures
Segmentation and secure remote access
A target architecture you can build in stages.
What we do
- Design zones, firewalls and demilitarised zones
- Secure remote maintenance with recording and approval
- Migration plan around maintenance windows
You receive
Target architecture, migration plan
OT monitoring concept
See attacks before they hit the process.
What we do
- Define what to log and where to monitor
- Requirements and selection support for OT monitoring tools
- Use cases and alarm handling with your team
You receive
Monitoring concept, use cases, selection criteria
OT incident response and recovery
Prepared for the day it happens.
What we do
- Response plan for production, linked to safety
- Backup and restore of controller logic and configurations
- Tabletop exercises with IT, OT and suppliers
You receive
Response plan, recovery runbooks, exercise report
Security programme and supplier requirements
Rules and routines that last.
What we do
- Policies and roles to IEC 62443-2-1
- Patch and change management
- Security requirements for integrators and machine builders (IEC 62443-2-4)
You receive
Programme documents, supplier requirement set
How we work
Step 1
Visit
Site walk and asset inventory with your team.
Step 2
Assess
Risk workshops per zone.
Step 3
Plan
Target architecture and step-by-step plan.
Step 4
Support
Implementation together with your integrators.
Standards and regulations
IEC 62443-2-1
Security programme for asset owners.
IEC 62443-2-4
Security requirements for integrators and service providers.
IEC 62443-3-2
Risk assessment, zones and conduits.
IEC 62443-3-3
System security requirements and security levels.
NIS2 and the German implementation act
Risk management and reporting duties for essential and important entities.
KRITIS rules and CER Directive
Requirements for operators of critical installations and critical entities.
Industries
Factories, process plants, utilities and energy systems.
Why Nord CS
Our team holds IEC 62443 Expert, TISAX and NIS2 implementer qualifications, and our founder serves on the ENISA Advisory Board. We know OT from both sides: securing plants for operators and building secure components for manufacturers.
Talk to a consultantQuestions we often hear
Do we have to stop production?
No. Assessments are done with your operations team and use passive methods. Any active test runs only in agreed windows.
Our systems cannot be patched. What then?
We protect them with segmentation, access control and monitoring, and plan replacement where the risk demands it.
Do you install security tools?
We define the requirements and support selection and rollout together with your integrators.
Does NIS2 apply to us?
It depends on your sector and size. We check applicability as part of the gap analysis.
Where does your product stand?
Tell us about your product and the rule you are facing. You talk to an engineer from the first call.
Cybersecurity consulting and the AITIGRITY platform for connected products and industrial systems.