Remote access is one of the highest-risk activities in any industrial environment. Yet almost every plant eventually needs a trusted integrator or OEM to connect during a crisis.
The Approach We Standardized On
We never allow direct inbound connections to control systems. Instead, every remote session goes through a hardened jump host that enforces MFA, records the entire session, and only forwards specific, pre-approved protocols (usually a single port on a single PLC for a limited time window).
- Hardware or virtual appliances purpose-built for industrial remote access
- Time-limited access tokens instead of permanent VPN accounts
- Full keystroke and screen recording with tamper-proof storage
- Automatic revocation of all access at the end of the approved maintenance window
This model has survived multiple security audits and gives plant managers genuine peace of mind when third parties need to connect.