CASE
STUDY
FROM FRAGMENTED PRACTICES
TO A UNIFIED OT SECURITY FRAMEWORK
How a multi-subsidiary critical infrastructure operator achieved standards-aligned OT cybersecurity, consolidated compliance across regional frameworks, and built a clear roadmap for long-term security maturity.
| Challenge | Solution | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Inconsistent OT security across multiple subsidiary sites | Unified OT security framework harmonizing three regional standards | Standardized security baseline across all subsidiary operations |
| Unclear compliance obligations under IEC 62443, FIFA-2022, and Qatar-NICS | Seven-phase assessment covering governance, architecture, devices, and risk | Comprehensive risk register with identified critical vulnerabilities |
| Network segmentation weaknesses and limited cyber risk visibility | Prioritized remediation roadmap across all subsidiaries | Foundation for long-term OT security investment and maturity planning |
Project Background
A critical infrastructure organization operating OT and ICS environments across multiple subsidiaries needed to establish a unified cybersecurity baseline. With obligations under three overlapping regional standards and no consistent approach across sites, leadership lacked the visibility and roadmap needed to reduce risk and demonstrate compliance. The organization engaged Arista Cyber to develop a framework that could hold across the entire group.
Inconsistent Controls, Overlapping Standards, and No Unified Risk View
The organization operated OT environments across multiple subsidiaries, each with different security practices, governance maturity levels, and control system configurations. Security expectations varied from site to site. No common baseline existed, and the compliance landscape was complex: the organization faced simultaneous obligations under IEC 62443, FIFA-2022 requirements, and Qatar National Information Classification Scheme (Qatar-NICS), with no clear mapping between them.
Network segmentation was inadequate in several locations, with control assets exposed to enterprise network traffic. Device configurations had not been reviewed systematically, and authentication practices on PLCs, RTUs, HMIs, and SCADA systems were inconsistent. Leadership had no consolidated view of cyber risk across the group and no structured basis for prioritizing investment or demonstrating compliance to regulators and auditors.
The absence of a unified framework meant that each subsidiary was managing risk independently, without shared standards, shared visibility, or a shared improvement trajectory. The organization needed a structured starting point and a practical path forward.
Seven-Phase Assessment and a Standards-Harmonized OT Security Framework
Arista Cyber conducted a structured, engineering-led engagement across the organization, working directly with OT, engineering, IT, network, and maintenance teams at each subsidiary to understand actual operational practices rather than assumed ones. The engagement covered seven phases:
Framework Development
IEC 62443, FIFA-2022, and Qatar NICS standards were harmonized into a single unified OT security framework, ensuring consistent security expectations and eliminating the need to manage three parallel compliance workstreams across subsidiaries.
Governance & Documentation Review
Existing policies, procedures, vendor access controls, and procurement practices were assessed against the unified framework to identify compliance gaps, inconsistencies, and improvement opportunities.
Interviews & Field Assessment
Onsite engagement with operational and engineering personnel at each location provided crucial insight into real-world security processes, informal workarounds, and constraints not evident from documentation alone.
Architecture & Network Review
Network segmentation, firewall rules, DMZ configurations, remote access solutions, and IT/OT integration points were reviewed to uncover weaknesses that might permit lateral movement or unauthorized access.
Device-Level Assessment
PLCs, RTUs, HMIs, engineering workstations, and SCADA servers were examined for operating system hardening, authentication configuration, and patch currency, ensuring device-level protection across all key OT assets.
Risk & Gap Assessment
Vulnerabilities and misconfigurations identified were consolidated into a standardized risk register, categorized by criticality, and mapped directly to unified framework controls for clear accountability and prioritization.
Roadmap Creation
A prioritized remediation roadmap was developed, addressing governance, network segmentation, device hardening, monitoring, and incident response capabilities to give leadership a phased, milestone-driven improvement plan.
A Unified Security Baseline, a Clear Risk Register, and a Roadmap for Maturity
Arista Cyber delivered a standards-harmonized OT security framework, a comprehensive risk register, and a prioritized remediation roadmap that gave the organization's leadership its first consolidated view of cyber risk across the entire group.
The unified framework resolved the compliance fragmentation, establishing consistent security expectations across all subsidiaries without requiring each site to manage separate obligations. The device-level and architecture assessments identified specific critical weaknesses in network segmentation, authentication, and device configuration that had been creating unacknowledged exposure. The roadmap structured the remediation priorities in a sequence that could be executed progressively without disrupting operations.
The client achieved measurable improvement in compliance posture, reduced cyber exposure through targeted segmentation and device hardening, and established a governance foundation capable of supporting long-term OT security investment and maturity planning. The engagement also positioned the organization to meet evolving regional regulatory expectations with documented evidence of systematic risk management.
Who Should Engage Arista Cyber?
IT and OT Leaders in industrial & critical infrastructure operations who want assurance, resilience, and measurable security outcomes.
What's The Next Step?
- Schedule a Cyber Risk Assessment
- Conduct an Executive Workshop
- Start OT Security Roadmap Planning
Ready to establish a unified OT security framework for your organisation? Contact Arista Cyber to schedule a Cyber Risk Assessment.