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Water Utilities Face Rising OT Cybersecurity Threats
26% of water facilities reported at least one control-system security incident in the past year.
26.6 million people are served by US drinking water systems with critical or high-risk cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
51% of surveyed water utilities lack formal remote access policies, with 35% relying on informal policies.
39% of surveyed water utilities are unable or unsure whether they could operate manually during a cyberattack.
71% of water facilities have limited or no ICS/OT network monitoring capabilities.
Essential Connections, Expanding Risks
From water quality to service reliability, critical operations in water and wastewater facilities depend on connected systems. But expanding remote access, increasing IT/OT interconnectivity, and complex networks of users and assets create new pathways for cyber threats. As a result, keeping operational systems secure and running has become more challenging than ever.
47%
cite difficulty integrating legacy ICS/OT technology with modern IT systems as a top challenge.
SANS Institute, 2025
90%+
of identified vulnerabilities in US water utility IT systems involve VPNs and other remote connectivity technologies.
Dragos, 2024
41%
of reported water-sector ICS/OT security incidents began with an IT compromise that spread into OT.
SANS Institute, 2025
Top challenges for water and
wastewater utilities include:
Geographically Dispersed Infrastructure
Treatment plants, pumping stations, and other remote facilities span large geographic areas, making it difficult to secure connections and protect critical OT assets.
24/7 Critical Operations
Water and wastewater operations typically run around the clock, and even brief outages can disrupt the essential services communities depend on.
Water Quality at Stake
Unauthorized changes to treatment processes, chemical dosing, or operational controls can compromise water quality and threaten public health.
Legacy Systems, Modern Threats
Aging SCADA systems, PLCs, and other OT assets are difficult to patch or replace, leaving critical infrastructure exposed to modern cyber threats.
Third-Party Access Risks
Vendors and contractors need access to critical systems, but managing their permissions and activities without delaying essential maintenance is a challenge.
Limited Visibility and Control
Dispersed assets, fragmented networks, and multiple access methods make it difficult to monitor connections, communications, and potential threats.
IT-to-OT Threat Propagation
Poor network segmentation can allow attackers to move from compromised IT systems into OT environments, putting critical operations at risk.
Growing Demands, Stretched Resources
Small teams and constrained budgets make it difficult for water utilities to keep pace with evolving cyber threats and regulatory requirements.
At Cyolo, we believe security tools that disrupt operations, cause downtime, or add complexity don’t belong in OT environments.
That’s why our connectivity platform is built for speed, simplicity, and safety as well as security.
Ensure secure remote access to treatment plants and pumping stations without downtime or disruption.
The biggest difference now is that we sleep a little better at night. We know we have a more secure solution for ensuring remote access to our most critical systems.
Knut Olav Bakke, Automation Engineer
Lillehammer Municipality Department of Water and Wastewater
How Cyolo Secures Water and Wastewater Operations
The Cyolo Secure Connectivity Platform brings together Cyolo PRO (Privileged Remote Operations) and Cyolo CPS Segmentation to protect critical OT environments.
Cyolo PRO secures remote access to critical OT systems, allowing water utilities to control who can connect, which assets they can access, and what happens during privileged sessions.
Cyolo CPS Segmentation provides visibility into OT asset communications and granular control over network traffic, helping utilities limit lateral movement, contain threats, and protect critical operations.
Cyolo enables water and wastewater utilities to:
Secure Remote Access Without Disruption
Give employees, contractors, and equipment vendors fast, secure access to critical OT systems without exposing entire networks or interrupting essential operations.
Limit Lateral Movement and Contain Threats
Control communications between OT assets with granular Zero Trust microsegmentation, preventing unauthorized connections and limiting the spread of cyber threats.
Gain Visibility and Control Across OT
Monitor privileged sessions and asset communications across distributed facilities. Optional AI-powered Live Risk Detection within Cyolo PRO identifies risky activity in real time, helping teams respond faster.
Protect Critical Operations and Water Quality
Reduce the risk of unauthorized access and harmful changes to treatment processes and operational controls, helping safeguard essential services and public health.
Strengthen Security Without Replacing Legacy Systems
Protect aging SCADA systems, PLCs, and other sensitive OT assets with agentless, incremental security controls that minimize operational disruption.
Simplify Security and Support Compliance
Bring secure remote access and OT network segmentation together in one platform, reducing security complexity while supporting auditability and regulatory requirements.
How Lillehammer Municipality Improved the Security of its Water and Wastewater Operations
Lillehammer Municipality relied on outdated, VPN-based remote access to manage approximately 80 water and wastewater facilities, putting critical systems at risk. With Cyolo, the municipality can now easily and securely manage remote access to OT assets, with strong authentication, full session visibility, and granular access controls.
OT Security for Water Utilities: What NIST Says About Secure Remote Access
NIST's latest guidance for water and wastewater utilities highlights the importance of securing OT connectivity. Explore key recommendations for secure remote access, asset visibility, and network segmentation to reduce cyber risk, limit lateral movement, and protect essential water and wastewater services.
What the Minnesota Water Attacks Reveal About Securing Remote Access to Critical Infrastructure
Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure don't require advanced exploits. Using the recent Minnesota water attacks as an example, this article explains why strong access controls remain the first line of defense for operational technology and reveals how organizations can reduce their exposure to common attack paths.
