OT Penetration Testing
OT Penetration Testing is where assumptions get tested. Network diagrams look clean. Firewall rules look strict. Access procedures look controlled. Then one overlooked pathway, one legacy service, or one shared credential turns into real exposure.
Arista Cyber performs OT Penetration Testing to uncover exploitable weaknesses in industrial control environments before an attacker does. The emphasis is on realistic risk, but done safely.
OT is not IT. You cannot test control networks the same way you test office systems. The method must protect availability, process stability, and business continuity from the start.
This service is designed for organisations that want a clear answer to questions like:
- 1. Can an attacker actually move from a reachable point into critical OT zones?
- 2. Does segmentation hold up in practice, not just on paper?
- 3. Are remote access paths tighter than they used to be?
- 4. Are there exposed services, unsafe defaults, or weak authentication paths that could be abused?
- 5. What should be fixed first, based on how the plant runs?
The outcome is not a “Pen-test Report”. The outcome is operational clarity on what is reachable, what is exploitable, and what changes will reduce risk without breaking the plant.
CONTROLLED, CENTRALIZED, AND COMPLIANT REMOTE ACCESS FOR RESILIENT OPERATIONS
What Makes OT Penetration Testing Different
Industrial systems were built to run, not to be probed aggressively. Many devices are sensitive to scanning volume, unusual packet patterns, or unexpected protocol behaviour. Some run older firmware. Some have limited logging. Some systems cannot be restarted quickly if something goes wrong. Unlike IT environments, OT systems require testing methodologies that ensure system safety, availability, and business continuity.
That is why OT penetration testing needs strict discipline:
- ✔ Safety and stability come first
- ✔ The scope must be clear and approved
- ✔ Testing must be paced and monitored
- ✔ Certain techniques may be restricted, even if they are common in IT testing
- ✔ Vendor boundaries and change control still apply
This is also why a "generic pen-test package" can create more risk than it removes. The testing approach has to be OT-aware and planned around the site.
What We Test
The exact scope depends on your environment, but OT penetration testing commonly focuses on practical attack paths, such as:
✔ Segmentation and boundary controls
We check whether zones and conduits behave the way they should. This includes paths between IT and OT, between OT zones, and through DMZ layers where applicable.
✔ Remote access and user entry points
We examine how remote connectivity is implemented, including vendor access routes, jump hosts, bastions, and identity controls. The goal is to confirm whether access is limited to what is intended.
✔ Protocol and service exposure
We review what services and industrial protocols are reachable and whether exposure matches the design. This often surfaces unexpected listeners, management ports, or legacy services that stayed open.
✔ Credential and configuration weaknesses
We look for unsafe defaults, shared credentials, weak password practices, and configurations that increase reachability or privilege unnecessarily.
✔ Device and system-level vulnerabilities
Where safe and approved, we assess vulnerabilities tied to device versions and configurations. Exploitation is handled carefully. In OT, proving reachability and impact is often more useful than pushing a device into failure.
Key Advantages
- 1.See real exploitability, not theoretical risk.
Instead of guessing whether a vulnerability "matters," OT penetration testing shows what can actually be reached and abused in your environment. - 2.Validate segmentation and access controls.
We check whether the boundaries you rely on actually hold up. If a rule, shortcut, or "temporary" exception has created a route that should not exist, it shows up quickly. - 3.Identify unsafe configurations and exposed services.
Most issues are not exotic. They're the everyday things that slip through over time: default logins, rules that are wider than they need to be, services left exposed, or paths nobody realised were still open. - 4.OT-safe methodology
We work within OT limits. The testing is planned, paced, and watched closely so the environment stays stable and production is not put at risk. - 4.Support assurance conversations
Results help with regulator discussions, vendor assurance programs, and internal governance reviews because findings are tied to real exposure and operational impact.
Deliverables
- 1.Tailored Threat model and OT-specific test plan
A clear plan that defines the scope, approach, constraints, and safety boundaries. This includes the systems in scope, the techniques allowed, and the success criteria for the engagement. - 2.Reachability and exposure mapping
A view of which OT assets, systems, and services can be reached from defined starting points, including unexpected paths that bypass intended boundaries. - 3.Findings report with proof where allowed
A Findings report that explains what was discovered, where it sits, and why it matters. Any proof is kept within the boundaries agreed up front, with OT stability in mind. - 4.Risk classification with operational impact
We rank findings in a way that makes sense for OT: what could affect safety, uptime, or control, and what needs attention first. This avoids a list where everything looks equally urgent. - 5.Remediation guidance
Clear fixes tied to real issues. Fixes are tied back to the way your environment runs, such as tightening a boundary, adjusting access paths, removing an exposure, or planning patch work where it is realistic. - 6.Optional retesting and Validation
If you want a confirmation round after fixes, we can re-check the priority items and verify that the exposure is no longer present.
Our Approach
1) Scope, safety boundaries, and coordination
Before any testing, we lock down the rules of engagement: what is included, what is off-limits, when testing can happen, and who gets called if anything looks unusual. Operations should always know what is happening and when.
2) Architecture review and threat modelling
We review how your OT environment is connected and how people and vendors actually access it. From that, we choose the attack paths worth testing, so effort is spent on realistic routes rather than generic checks.
3) Controlled discovery and Validation
We run OT-safe discovery and validation activities, paced to the environment. The objective is to understand reachability and control behaviour without flooding networks or destabilising devices.
4) Targeted testing of weak points
Testing then focuses on the areas most likely to create real exposure: boundary rules, remote access entry points, identity and privilege, exposed services, and device-level weaknesses where permitted.
5) Translate findings into actions teams can take
We do not stop at "here's what's wrong." We tie findings to practical fixes and prioritise them in a way that works with operational constraints and maintenance planning.
Benefits of Policy & Governance
- ✔ Formalised roles and accountability so decisions do not depend on individual memory
- ✔ Standardised security practices across teams, sites, and shifts
- ✔ Clear escalation and incident pathways that are understood before something happens
- ✔ Foundation for compliance with IEC, NIST, ISO, and local requirements
- ✔ Stronger alignment between IT, OT, and leadership on ownership and risk decisions
Deliverables for Policy & Governance
- ✔ Full OT cybersecurity policy suite (access control, change management, incident response, and more)
- ✔ Role-based governance and escalation matrix tailored to your organisational structure
- ✔ Mapping of policies to applicable standards and regulations (IEC 62443, NIST, ISO, and local requirements)
- ✔ Policy deployment roadmap with hands-on implementation support
- ✔ Training material for awareness and internal rollout
When OT Penetration Testing Is Most Useful
- ✔ You have recently changed the segmentation, DMZ, or remote access
- ✔ Vendors or third parties have routine access to OT
- ✔ You are preparing for audits, regulator reviews, or assurance programs
- ✔ You need to validate that controls work across multiple sites
- ✔ You suspect workarounds have created gaps over time
- ✔ Leadership wants evidence of real risk, not only compliance language
Highlights
- ✔ Real-world insight into exploitable risk in OT
- ✔ Validation of segmentation, access, and control boundaries
- ✔ Findings prioritised by operational impact, not just scores
- ✔ Testing methods designed to avoid disruption
Ready to Validate Your OT Security in Practice?
If you want to know what an attacker could actually reach in your control environment, OT penetration testing provides that clarity. It helps move the conversation from assumptions to evidence, and from generic risk statements to specific actions that reduce exposure.
Share any constraints you want respected (shutdown windows, zones that must not be touched, vendor limitations), and I'll shape this page further to match your exact operating model and industries.
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