The industrial world is undergoing a profound transformation, KuppingerCole reports in its recently released Leadership Compass: Secure Remote Access for OT/ICS.
It asserts that Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS)—the backbone of energy, manufacturing, transportation, water utilities, and other critical sectors—are increasingly interconnected with IT networks.
This convergence enables real-time diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and rapid support, but it also expands the cyber-attack surface. As a result, secure remote access (SRA) has become an operational necessity rather than a convenience.
Why Secure Remote Access Matters
OT networks are often organized according to the Purdue model, where direct access to the most sensitive process and device layers (Levels 1 and 2) is strictly limited. SRA typically operates at Levels 3 and 3.5, providing a monitored bridge for maintenance, configuration changes, and emergency interventions.
This design protects legacy systems—many of which were built without modern security controls, such as encryption or authentication—while enabling rapid service.
Unlike generic VPNs or remote desktop tools, SRA solutions deliver policy-enforced, session-monitored connectivity. Features such as time-bound, protocol-specific access, multifactor authentication, and real-time logging prevent malware propagation and lateral movement.
Compliance with regulations such as IEC 62443, NERC CIP, and NIS2 further drives adoption, making SRA a foundational element of industrial cybersecurity.
Market Dynamics and Growth
According to KuppingerCole, this market is quickly evolving from niche to mainstream. Growth is propelled by IT/OT convergence, regulatory mandates, and the operational demand for zero-trust, always-available connectivity.
Furthermore, vendors now embed advanced capabilities, such as behavioral analytics, anomaly detection, and high availability, to meet uptime requirements. Delivery models range from on-premises appliances for air-gapped plants to cloud-managed gateways for global enterprises, reflecting the diverse needs of industrial sites.
SSH Communications Security (SSH) is Recognized as a Leader Across All Categories
Among the leaders in this space, KuppingerCole has recognized SSH as a leader across all categories for its PrivX OT solution, purpose-built for industrial environments. PrivX OT provides passwordless, keyless, and just-in-time access using short-lived certificates and microsegmentation to reduce risk.
Our support for major IT and industrial protocols (e.g., SSH, RDP, VNC, HTTPS, Modbus, OPC UA, DNP3) ensures compatibility with legacy equipment as well as modern IT environments while enforcing zero-trust policies and continuous verification.
PrivX OT’s flexible deployment—from on-premises and Kubernetes to air-gapped environments—makes it ideal for geographically distributed operations. Built-in capabilities, including live session monitoring, forensic audit logs, and quantum-safe tunneling, help meet evolving compliance and resilience requirements.
By integrating smoothly with identity management, SIEM, and SOAR systems, SSH enables unified governance across IT and OT environments.
Delivering Business Value
For industrial operators, the payoff is significant. Reduced downtime, lower maintenance costs, and faster incident response translate into measurable operational savings. At the same time, robust access controls, encryption, and continuous monitoring enhance safety for employees and protect critical machinery.
These outcomes align directly with the market’s top drivers:
- Risk reduction
- Regulatory compliance
- Operational efficiency
As industrial systems grow more connected and cyber threats intensify, secure remote access has become essential to operational continuity. The OT/ICS SRA market is expanding rapidly, with vendors racing to combine zero-trust access, legacy protocol support, and compliance-ready monitoring. We are delighted to be recognized as an overall, product, innovation, and market leader for delivering the depth, flexibility, and forward-looking technology—such as quantum-resilient encryption—needed to safeguard the world’s critical infrastructure today and in the future.
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