Remote access has become a permanent and unavoidable part of cyber-physical systems (CPS) operations. But many industrial organizations still rely on legacy access methods that were not designed for safety-first, industrial environments. The 2026 Gartner® Market Guide for CPS Secure Remote Access delivers a clear message: VPNs, jump servers, and IT-centric access tools create unacceptable risk because they lack asset-level, protocol-aware, and operational controls. To better protect critical systems and processes, “organizations are pivoting from ‘secure connectivity’ to ‘secure operations’ with fit for purpose cyber-physical systems secure remote access products.”
Third-party access to OT environments must be secured with identity-based, least-privilege controls rather than broad network access to reduce ransomware, supply-chain risk, and operational disruption.
Traditional vendor access methods like VPNs often struggle under real plant conditions. This article outlines a practical, OT-ready approach to reducing third-party access risk while protecting uptime and operational control.
As AI data centers take on the role of critical infrastructure, they face increasing cyber and operational risks. Learn why OT dependencies and legacy access models make them a high-value target.
Cascading risk is a new reality of our connected, vendor-dependent world. Uncontrolled third-party OT access leads to cascading risk, but identity-based, least-privilege access can reduce exposure without disrupting operations.
AI is reshaping OT cyber risk. Secure remote access with identity-based access control and real-time visibility is key to protecting industrial operations in 2026 and beyond.