e2e Assure expands OT protection

Latest research from SOC-as-a-service provider, e2e-assure reveals that despite expecting their Operational Technology (OT) to be targeted, over 50% of organizations report uncoordinated monitoring means they are lacking the resilience to respond from a cyber attack.

Research also found there is a lack of consistency and completeness when it comes to monitoring OT environments, with 32% of organizations using detection platforms originally built for IT, 29% using active visibility tools, and 28% using custom developed detection logic.  This highlights a need for better integrated tools and, more importantly, specialist monitoring.  Standards and directives from UK, EU, and US government organizations recommend continuous monitoring to provide real-time context and visibility for OT assets and network connectivity.  Therefore, it’s concerning that e2e-assure’s research found that 28% of organizations say they have only manual or ad hoc coordination of their IT/OT visibility and monitoring.

To meet a growing demand for advanced OT security solutions which enable continuous monitoring, threat detection, and data protection, e2e-assure has launched 24/7 Unified IT/OT Detection and monitoring that uses EmberOT’s sensors to deliver continuous insight into status, vulnerabilities, and threats, helping organizations address potential risks and protect industrial systems and critical infrastructure.  The sensors will help customers reduce alert noise through false positives, decrease detection times, and increase asset visibility.  Combined with e2e-assure’s expertise and deep subject matter knowledge, this solution means customers can get ahead of threats and build resilience into a proactive cybersecurity strategy.

Partnering with Trinity OT Security to deliver the service combines e2e-assure’s 24/7 managed detection and response capabilities with Trinity’s expertise in OT cyber security consulting and risk-based security improvement.  The collaboration will deliver a comprehensive security solution for industrial and critical infrastructure organizations aligned with industry standards and regulatory frameworks, such as NIS2 and IEC 62443.  Trinity OT will lead consultative engagements, including OT risk assessments, security improvement planning, and compliance advisory, while benefiting from e2e-assure’s UK-based Security Operations Centre (SOC) for ongoing threat detection, investigation, and response across IT and OT telemetry.

“From expanding threats to mounting regulatory requirements, OT organizations are not equipped to handle these challenges alone,” says Rob Demain, CEO, e2e-assure.  “But it’s not a process that can be easily outsourced due to the complexity and sensitivity of their operations.  We are delighted that with this new product and partnership, e2e-assure is now further equipped to support organizations where operational resilience and avoiding costly downtime is crucial.”

“Securing operational technology environments requires more than point solutions; it demands a strategic blend of deep technical insight, risk-based advisory and resilient operational defence,” adds Ben Dunlop, Chief Operating Officer, Trinity OT.  “By partnering with e2e-assure, we are enhancing our ability to protect customers throughout the security lifecycle, from shaping improvements to sustaining them with world-class, 24/7 threat detection and response.  This collaboration strengthens our collective commitment to deliver measurable risk reduction and operational resilience for organisations whose uptime and safety are paramount.”

As organizations increasingly adopt connected sensors and smart equipment, the number of cyber threat entry points is set to rise, and the securing OT environments is becoming a priority.  Since 2020, attacks on OT environments have increased year-on-year and, in the past 12 months, the impact from cyber attacks on manufacturing from Jaguar Land Rover to Asahi continues to be felt.