Author: Amit Pawar, VP of Consulting and Services, Xage Security

Operational technology (OT) underpins global businesses and critical infrastructure, bringing clean water, safe fuel, manufactured goods, and timely air and ground transportation to billions. The vital role played by OT makes it an appealing target for hackers, both financially and geopolitically motivated. Protecting these assets is of the highest urgency.

Xage and Armis are deepening the partnership to deliver cutting edge zero trust security to critical IT/OT environments that often lack basic protection, and are being targeted by cyber adversaries at an escalating rate. The partnership delivers a comprehensive access control and asset intelligence cybersecurity solution that enhances visibility, security and control for OT systems. This helps organizations maintain operational integrity and mitigate risks effectively.

Armis Secure Remote Access Powered by Xage

Remotely accessing IT/OT assets for maintenance and security response enables critical infrastructure operators and global enterprises alike to gain deep situational awareness, reduce risk and respond to incidents faster. Legacy remote access technologies like VPN have proven risky to connect to OT assets, leaving them vulnerable to attack. 

Armis Secure Remote Access, powered by Xage, brings zero trust identity and access management, remote privileged access management, vendor access management and asset protection to the most vital and vulnerable layers of any organization.

Zero Trust Principles and Defense-in-Depth Are Must Haves in OT

The principles of zero trust have rapidly transitioned from a hypothetical framework to a must-have set of requirements, especially for critical infrastructure. NIST has published a zero trust framework to guide organizations in their efforts to roll out zero trust principles. The U.S. Department of Defense Zero Trust Strategy has set deadlines when DoD agencies and contractors will be required to comply with target levels of zero trust security. Globally, zero trust has become the standard framing for the future of cybersecurity. Organizations that keep up will find themselves better defended against evolving threats. Those that do not adopt zero trust will find themselves an easier target.

But to achieve the zero trust principles across an entire complex OT environment involves securing some of the most difficult environments imaginable such as:

• Remote assets on naval ships or wind farms at sea
• Satellite networks in low earth orbit and beyond
• Factory lines producing millions of products per hour

In these environments, the stakes are too high to compromise when it comes to secure remote access. A defense-in-depth approach, with compensating controls across the environment and down to individual devices, is best. The partnership supports the attributes of defensible architecture for ICS security laid out by SANS, assuring that zero trust principles are effectively deployed at every layer of critical OT, ICS, and cyber physical systems (CPS) environments.

Xage customers such as U.S. Space Force, Kinder Morgan, and Petrobras are already using our products to secure the most challenging and sensitive assets on earth, at sea, and in space. 

The joint solution delivers zero trust access and protection to the most vital enterprises and critical infrastructure operators worldwide. For a deep dive on how Xage and Armis are delivering on Zero Trust in OT, check out Zero Trust Architecture in OT Environments: Bespoke Capabilities Designed for Industrial Needs

The Value of Zero Trust Access

Xage recently conducted an ROI study, using data from real customers that found the value of Zero Trust Access comes in many forms:

• Reduced costs and risks for onsite maintenance that require transport to remote locations
• Consolidation of access tooling to eliminate management overhead and duplicative tooling
• Mitigation of risk from third party access and supply chain partners, with potential reduction in cyberinsurance premiums over time

One Xage customer achieved return on investment in just three months. Another saved over a million dollars annually by using remote access instead of bringing technicians on site. Read the full Xage ROI Report.

Beyond OT Remote Access – Segmentation, Data Protection, and More

Bringing secure remote access to OT is just one part of Xage’s broader mission to enable zero trust with defense in depth across the entire enterprise environment, from OT, to IT, to Cloud. The current complexities in managing and securing access and protecting assets and data have left gaps in enterprise security that adversaries are quick to exploit. Simplifying, streamlining, and securing these environments to empower organizations to be more productive without sacrificing security is paramount.

Zero Trust Access is just one feature of the Xage Fabric Platform. Learn more about other Xage products and solutions including zero trust microsegmentation, privileged access management (PAM), and the unique distributed mesh architecture of the Xage Fabric Platform that enables Xage to deliver Zero Trust Access and Protection for the Whole Enterprise.

Collaborative Efforts for Enhanced Zero Trust Security

The partnership is built on a shared commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure. Together, they bring their unique strengths to the table, creating a unified solution that enhances both visibility, security and control. The solution focuses on zero-trust security in the form of securing access and assets resulting in a more robust and cohesive approach to cybersecurity. This partnership ensures that every device and user is authenticated before access to critical systems is granted. The combination of security controls and device insights creates a proactive and adaptive security solution that is well-suited to the dynamic nature of today’s digital infrastructure.

Key Benefits

The Xage and Armis partnership offers several key benefits, significantly enhancing the security posture of critical infrastructure organizations:

1. Extended Device Visibility: One of the standout features of this partnership is the comprehensive visibility it provides into the digital ecosystem. Armis’s device intelligence covers a wide range of assets, including those not typically accounted for by traditional security measures. This extensive coverage allows for a more complete understanding of the infrastructure, helping to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities, risk and threats.
2. Zero Trust Protection: By delivering secure remote access and asset intelligence cybersecurity, the combined solution  helps ensure  zero trust protection for every asset, and every interaction. The collaboration enables a more granular approach to access control, ensuring that only verified and authorized devices and users can interact with critical systems. Xage also delivers the ability to adjust policies based on asset risk profiles, interactions, and vulnerabilities. This is essential for protecting sensitive data and preventing unauthorized access.
3. Threat and Vulnerability Oversight: Armis provides a robust solution for asset management and security, threat detection and vulnerability management. Armis’s comprehensive threat intelligence, when used alongside Xage’s access control, risk mitigation, breach prevention, and incident response capabilities, enables a proactive defense strategy. This allows organizations to identify and respond to potential threats before they can cause significant harm, ensuring a more resilient infrastructure.
4. Streamlined Operations: Beyond enhancing security, the partnership also simplifies operational processes. By leveraging shared data from both platforms, organizations can improve asset management and policy implementation. This collaboration reduces the complexity of managing diverse device ecosystems and ensures consistent security policies across all environments.

Their combined efforts provide a comprehensive solution that not only enhances security but also simplifies the management of complex digital environments. This collaboration offers organizations the tools and insights needed to protect their assets and ensure the continued safety and resilience of their operations.

As cyber threats continue to grow in sophistication, the need for integrated and adaptable security solutions becomes increasingly vital. The Xage and Armis partnership is a testament to the strength of collaboration in tackling these challenges. By harnessing their combined expertise, Xage and Armis are helping organizations navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity, providing robust protection and peace of mind in an ever-evolving digital landscape.