OT Security
Secure and Scalable Identity Management for Operational Technology (OT)
Introduction: Cybersecurity in OT Is No Longer Optional
Operational Technology (OT) systems are the backbone of industries like energy, transportation, water treatment, and manufacturing. Yet, these critical infrastructures face increasing cyber threats due to legacy systems, limited security measures, and growing IT/OT convergence. As attacks grow more sophisticated, securing OT environments becomes both a business imperative and a regulatory requirement.
Why OT Security Is Under Pressure
Growing Threat Landscape
Modern cyber threats target OT systems with increasing frequency and severity. From production halts and equipment damage to nationwide service outages, real-world incidents have already demonstrated the impact of OT vulnerabilities.
- 9,900% projected growth in OT attacks from 2022 to 2027
- Widespread industrial shutdowns predicted in coming years
- Only 4% of attacks are financially motivated — the rest are strategic or geopolitical
Source: Gartner, SecurityIntelligence
Security Gaps in Legacy Infrastructure
Many OT environments were designed for performance and uptime, not cybersecurity. As a result, they lack modern security features such as device authentication, encryption, and identity management. The rise in remote connectivity and IT/OT integration has expanded the attack surface significantly.
Regulatory Drivers for OT Cybersecurity
Governments and regulators are stepping in with new mandates:
- IEC 62443: A framework for risk-based OT security and lifecycle management
- NIS2 Directive: Enforces robust risk management and incident reporting in essential sectors
- EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA): Adds stricter security standards for connected devices, including OT
Compliance with these standards requires organizations to adopt strong identity and access controls—starting with digital identities.
Digital Identities: The Foundation of Secure OT
Every component in an OT system—from sensors to PLCs—should operate with a secure digital identity. This enables:
- Encrypted, authenticated communication between devices
- Tamper-proof configuration and software updates
- Full traceability and lifecycle management
These identities are typically implemented as X.509 digital certificates secured by a public/private keypair. Managing these at scale, however, presents significant operational challenges.
Current Challenges in OT Identity Management
Despite awareness among decision-makers, implementation on the ground remains fragmented:
| Challenge | Impact |
|---|---|
| Manual device registration and identity provisioning | High labor costs and risk of error |
| Certificate expiration every 2 years | Risk of unexpected service outages |
| Limited remote access to OT systems | Time-consuming, on-site interventions for updates |
Manual processes are simply not sustainable as OT ecosystems grow in size and complexity.
Zero Touch Onboarding (ZTO): A Smarter Way Forward
Zero Touch Onboarding (ZTO) eliminates manual processes by automating device identity provisioning and certificate lifecycle management from manufacturing through deployment.
How It Works
- At the Manufacturer: Device receives a digital identity signed by the Manufacturer’s PKI.
- Shipping: Device is shipped with its initial identity.
- At the Operator Site: Upon connection, the device automatically authenticates and enrolls with the local PKI.
- Post-Onboarding: The device can autonomously renew certificates and communicate securely.
Comparison: Manual vs. ZTO
| Step | Manual Process | ZTO Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Device registration | Manual entry and validation | Automatic registration via BRSKI/FDO |
| Certificate renewal | Every 2 years, manually | Automated, on-device |
| Traceability | Limited | Full lifecycle visibility |
| Security posture | Prone to human error | Standards-based, verifiable |
View the full lifecycle diagram in the whitepaper → [Download]
Benefits of ZTO for Stakeholders
For Operators
- Reduced workload in identity management
- Improved system uptime through automated renewals
- Regulatory alignment with standards like NIS2 and IEC 62443
For Device Manufacturers
- Product differentiation with built-in ZTO support
- Customer loyalty through simplified integration
- Compliance-ready solutions with standards-based identity provisioning
Eviden’s Digital Identity Solutions
Eviden delivers a comprehensive solution stack to enable secure ZTO in OT environments:
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| ZTO Client | Enables ZTO-readiness on non-compliant devices |
| MASA (Manufacturer Authorized Signing Authority) | Issues secure device identities during manufacturing |
| Domain Registrar | Handles automated identity issuance and management |
| IDnomic PKI | A full-featured PKI platform for secure digital identity infrastructure |
With 20+ years of experience and a track record of deploying large-scale PKIs, Eviden is a trusted partner in OT cybersecurity.
Best protection against cyberthreats in manufacturing industries
All major industry sectors such as energy, transportation or manufacturing are more than ever exposed to cyber risks. Adapted security strategies must therefore involve measures to protect hardware, software, and networks.
Delivering a solution for Operational Technology (OT) Security which protects industrial control systems, critical infrastructures, and manufacturing processes is at the center of our business.
Industrial IOT devices play a key role in this new threat management, as they increase the attack surface dramatically, due to their number and network connectivity.
By proposing in 2022 the Cyber Resilience Act, the EU is already adjusting the law, to take this trend into consideration.
On the industry side, IEC 62443 sets the reference as international standard for industrial cybersecurity, providing guidelines to assess, mitigate, and manage cybersecurity risks in industrial automation and control systems, enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure.
Therefore, from a security point of view, it’s vital to secure the entire chain, from equipment production to deployment and updating of devices.
Based on our expertise in trusted digital identity management, we have developed a professional response to these increasing OT security needs, which is based on the Zero Touch Onboarding (ZTO) concept.
ZTO is a scheme for the protection of IOT devices and the automatization of their lifecycle management which perfectly enables you to
- Manage securely device provisioning between manufacturing and customer site.
- Connect without risk new industrial devices with your network.
- Help you to automate configuration and installation of new devices.
By combining different cryptovison and IDnomic products, such as secured cryptographic microSD token and PKI software, Eviden has set up a ZTO solution, consisting of following building blocks:
- Middleware applications
- MASA (Manufacturer Authorized Signing Authority) – a trusted authority to check that device comes from reliable, recognized manufacturers.
- Domain Registrar – which operates as a local entity allowing the device to retrieve a certificate in an automatic and secure way.
- Domain PKI to issue to device digital certificates and ensure full compliancy with IETF standards, such as RFC 8995, RFC 7030.
- Provision of electronic certificates used for firmware code signing via a signature application.
Get in touch with our Digital ID team to know more about Zero Touch Onboarding and our solutions.
Our solutions at a glance
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