Palo Alto Networks has announced the launch of a new zero trust security solution named Zero Trust OT Security, aimed at safeguarding the operational technology (OT) environments of industrial organizations. The solution is expected to become available in March and is accompanied by a cloud-delivered service called Industrial OT Security, which is a crucial component of the offering.
The service offers comprehensive visibility into cyber-physical systems, including industrial control systems (ICS) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and uses machine learning to identify more than 350 OT asset profiles, over 1,000 ICS/OT applications, and more than 650 threat signatures. It also provides continuous risk monitoring, segmentation and least-privilege access control, and continuous security inspection capabilities.
The Industrial OT Security service can be easily enabled by any of Palo Alto Networks’ 61,000 customers without requiring additional sensors, and the Zero Trust OT Security solution is designed to provide zero trust security for OT assets and networks, remote operations, and 5G assets and networks. The company also aims to simplify operations by allowing organizations to manage everything from a unified platform rather than relying on different, siloed solutions.
Several industrial organizations have already tested the new OT security solution, with one company, Impossible Foods, stating that the solution is a “must-have” to ensure the best security practices are in place. Jared Mendenhall, Director of Information Security at Impossible Foods, said the company looked forward to the dedicated OT Security solution from Palo Alto Networks to help secure its manufacturing plant, remote operations, and realize its broader Zero Trust vision.
Overall, the launch of Zero Trust OT Security by Palo Alto Networks is a significant step in protecting industrial organizations from cyberattacks, particularly as manufacturing has become a key target for cyber criminals. The solution offers a comprehensive approach to safeguarding industrial control systems and IoT devices, while the accompanying cloud-delivered service provides continuous risk monitoring and other key capabilities.