A recent survey conducted in the Operational Technology (OT) space has shed light on the biggest concerns when it comes to Secure Remote Access (SRA) to resources. The survey, titled “State of Industrial Secure Remote Access (I-SRA),” revealed that 75% of respondents identified threats to business operations as their biggest concern when dealing with any form of SRA. This indicates that ensuring the security of SRA is of utmost importance for organizations.
Moreover, the survey also found that 67% of respondents viewed Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) as a growing concern in the context of SRA. APTs are sophisticated and stealthy attacks that can bypass traditional security measures, making them particularly dangerous. Organizations need to be aware of this evolving threat landscape and take proactive steps to protect their resources.
Another significant finding from the survey was that 72% of respondents considered third-party connections as their biggest risk for any Remote Access. This highlights the importance of carefully managing and monitoring connections from external parties. Organizations should implement robust access controls and authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to their resources.
While the survey focused on the OT space, the findings are relevant to SRA across any organization. Many SRA solutions are shared, maintained, managed, or controlled by IT resources within an organization. Therefore, the security of SRA has implications beyond a specific industry or sector.
One of the key takeaways from the survey is that the human component of SRA is often the weakest link. The survey found that 59% of respondents were concerned about trusted users with direct access to resources. This emphasizes the need for proper configuration, oversight, usage, and management of SRA solutions.
There are different models of SRA solutions, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and Zero Trust Architecture/Zero Trust Network Access (ZTA/ZTNA). VPNs provide encryption and authentication to grant access, but they may lack advanced features like session recording and supervised access. On the other hand, ZTA/ZTNA is based on the principle of trusting nothing and continuously validating sessions to ensure security. Both models have their own advantages and considerations, but the underlying problems of SRA solutions remain consistent.
Regardless of the technology model chosen, organizations need to address configuration, oversight, usage, and management issues to strengthen the security of their SRA implementations. Trusting end users and devices connecting to resources is a challenge, particularly in an era of sophisticated cyberattacks. It is crucial to follow best practices, enforce strong access policies, and maintain good security hygiene to mitigate risks.
In conclusion, organizations must prioritize the security and risk reduction of SRA implementations. This includes addressing the human component, implementing appropriate security controls, and staying vigilant against evolving threats. By taking these steps, organizations can unlock the puzzle of OT security and ensure a safe and secure remote access environment.