Offensive Security

OT/IoT Security

Testing is planned around safety, uptime and equipment constraints, with scope and methods agreed before work begins.

Discuss an OT/IoT assessment See how safety shapes testing

Connected devices and operational environments
Planning around safety, uptime and equipment constraints
Scope and methods agreed before work begins

The challenge

Evidence without risking safety or uptime

Connected environments need security evidence without putting safety or uptime at risk. OT and IoT assessments adapt discovery and validation to equipment limits, operational schedules and the people responsible for safe operation.

Security review for operational and connected technology

Operational technology controls physical processes, while IoT devices add software, communications and remote management to everyday equipment. Both can have long lifecycles and constraints that make ordinary testing methods unsuitable.

Cyberus begins with architecture, asset purpose and safe operating limits. Passive review and configuration analysis may precede any active testing, and potentially disruptive techniques are excluded unless specifically approved.

Connected environment risk path

Remote access. Vendor or support connections can offer a way toward systems that were never meant to be public.
Business network. Ordinary office systems may hold credentials or routes that lead toward operations.
Zone boundary. A well-enforced separation between zones can stop movement into control networks.
Operational process. Production, safety and equipment availability are what the boundary exists to protect.

Why it matters

Business risk: Connected equipment is often old, hard to patch and linked to safety or uptime, so one weak link can halt operations.
Decision it supports: Operations and security leaders can choose which compensating controls to apply when patching or replacement must wait.
What you receive: Findings tied to process consequences, with recommendations that respect safety limits and maintenance windows.

Assessment without losing operational context

Architecture and trust zones

Review how devices, control networks, business systems and remote access paths connect.

Why it matters: Unclear zones let a problem in an office network travel toward equipment that runs the process.
Supports: Segmentation and trust boundary decisions

Device and service exposure

Identify reachable interfaces, management services and unnecessary communications.

Why it matters: Devices that answer on unneeded interfaces widen the surface without any operational benefit.
Supports: Decisions on closing or restricting services

Identity and remote access

Assess administrative access, shared credentials, vendor connections and support pathways.

Why it matters: Shared logins and vendor tunnels are common ways into otherwise isolated environments.
Supports: Remote access and credential policy changes

Configuration and firmware review

Examine security settings, update practices and known component concerns where evidence is available.

Why it matters: Out-of-date firmware and loose settings are hard to change, so they must be understood first.
Supports: Evidence for upgrade or isolation planning

Safety-aware recommendations

Prioritize compensating controls when patching or replacement cannot happen quickly.

Why it matters: Advice that ignores safety or downtime is rejected by operators, so nothing improves.
Supports: Practical compensating control choices

How an OT/IoT assessment runs

Operational discovery
Meet system owners and document processes, assets, dependencies, safety limits and support arrangements.
Why it matters
Operators know what must never stop, so their knowledge shapes where and how anything is examined.
Method review
Agree passive and active techniques, test locations, maintenance windows and stop conditions.
Why it matters
Agreed methods and windows prevent assessment activity from disturbing sensitive equipment.
Evidence gathering
Review architecture, configurations and approved interfaces while monitoring for operational impact.
Why it matters
Reading configurations and approved interfaces gathers evidence while keeping live operations steady.
Risk workshop
Relate findings to process consequences and agree feasible remediation or compensating controls.
Why it matters
Linking issues to process outcomes helps owners agree changes they can actually carry out.

Why choose Cyberus for OT/IoT security

First input
Asset purpose and safety constraints
Preferred start
Passive evidence and configuration
Change control
Approved windows and rollback plans
Output
Prioritized technical and compensating controls

Frequently asked questions

Does the assessment require active scanning?

Not always. Passive records, architecture, configuration and controlled lab testing may provide useful evidence. Active techniques are chosen only after operational risk is reviewed.

What if a device cannot be patched?

The assessment can identify compensating measures such as segmentation, access restrictions, monitoring or operational procedures while longer-term replacement is considered.

Who should be involved in scoping?

Security, engineering, operations, safety and relevant vendors or maintainers should contribute because each understands different dependencies and constraints.

Team certifications

Individual qualifications held by members of the Cyberus team. They are not company accreditations, and not every consultant on an engagement holds every badge.

OSCP
Hands-on penetration testing skills, from enumeration to exploitation and privilege escalation.
OSWE
Web application security skills, including source code review and exploiting complex web vulnerabilities.
OSED
Exploit development skills, including analysing Windows software and writing custom exploits.
OSCP+
Hands-on penetration testing skills, from enumeration to exploitation and privilege escalation.
CRTA
Red team analysis skills, including adversary tactics and techniques.
eWPT
Web application penetration testing skills, from assessment method to exploiting common web flaws.
eWPTX
Advanced web application penetration testing skills, including complex attack techniques.
eMAPT
Mobile application penetration testing skills for Android and iOS applications.
BTL1
Defensive security skills across security operations, phishing analysis, forensics and incident response.
eCIR
Incident response skills, including investigating, containing and analysing security incidents.
CRTE
Red teaming skills focused on Windows environments and the tradecraft used against them.
CCT
EC-Council's Certified Cybersecurity Technician (CCT) validates foundational security, network, and defense skills.
Security+
CompTIA Security+ validates core skills in baseline cybersecurity, risk management, and threats.