Transform Session Monitoring with Intelligent Supervision for OT Environments

Operational technology (OT) environments, especially within critical sectors like energy, utilities, and manufacturing, are facing escalating cybersecurity challenges. In 2023, at least 68 cyberattacks caused physical consequences to OT networks across more than 500 global sites, leading to damages of up to $100 million. IBM confirms the rising cost of a breach in the industrial sector and attributes this to “the need for industrial organizations to prepare for a more rapid response, as organizations in this sector are highly sensitive to operational downtime.” The widespread shift to remote and hybrid work has also intensified security risks, as remote access expands the attack surface for threat actors. 

Traditional session monitoring in OT environments is resource-intensive and places a heavy strain on security teams. Research indicates that unsustainable stress and staff burnout could leave the security of critical national infrastructure at risk in the UK and elsewhere. The laborious nature of manual session monitoring, which can take 15-30 minutes per session, is almost certainly a factor in some cases of burnout. In high-demand OT settings, session monitoring alone translates to thousands of hours of work per year, diverting security resources from strategic initiatives and creating inefficiencies that reduce the overall effectiveness of OT cybersecurity.

Implementing AI-enhanced supervision solutions helps OT environments by automating oversight, reducing manual monitoring time by up to 70%, and accelerating incident detection and response by over 50%, according to Cyolo data. This technology also provides cost-saving benefits, cutting labor expenses by an estimated $300,000 annually and reducing system interruptions by 20-30%, which is crucial given the high costs of OT downtime. By enabling faster threat response and streamlining compliance, AI-powered supervision offers companies across OT sectors a sustainable way to improve security and resilience in an increasingly risky threat landscape.

Reduce Workloads with Cyolo PRO’s Intelligent Supervision for OT

Cyolo PRO (Privileged Remote Operations) is an advanced secure remote access solution designed to address one of the most pressing challenges facing modern industrial environments: safely connecting privileged users, remote staff, and third-party contractors to critical OT systems. Cyolo PRO’s new Intelligent Supervision for OT capabilities reimagine remote connection monitoring, allowing security teams to automate manual oversight and prioritize high-risk sessions that require immediate attention. By adding Intelligent Supervision, Cyolo PRO reduces resource strain, freeing teams to focus on strategic priorities while maintaining robust security and compliance-readiness.

Key Features of Cyolo PRO’s Intelligent Supervision:

1. Security Risk Scoring with Automated Reports
   Cyolo PRO assigns each remote session a security risk score based on operational factors, enabling supervisors to swiftly identify and prioritize high-risk connections. This feature provides a detailed session report, enhancing prioritization and supporting proactive decision-making. Integrations with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms facilitate logging and automated actions, further reducing manual workload and ensuring rapid response.

2. AI-Powered Session Monitoring
   Cyolo’s AI-driven monitoring continuously assesses active sessions for signs of risk, flagging or pausing sessions if it detects security, operational, or safety concerns, allowing for immediate intervention. This proactive supervision stops potential breaches and operational disruptions before they escalate, ensuring critical systems stay functional and protected.

By simplifying the oversight process, Cyolo PRO with Intelligent Supervision helps security teams focus on core strategic initiatives, minimizing manual workload and mitigating human error. This solution is especially valuable for industries where operational efficiency and security intersect — such as manufacturing, energy, and utilities.

A Future-Ready Approach to Supervision

As security workloads and cyber risks grow, Cyolo PRO with Intelligent Supervision provides an advanced, efficient way to address emerging threats. Automating oversight and enabling real-time risk detection reduces the burden on security teams and makes organizations more resilient.

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