Securing Critical Oil & Gas Infrastructure

In the fast-evolving landscape of cybersecurity for critical infrastructure, an Eastern European energy and petrochemical company has made significant strides in enhancing its cybersecurity posture for its cyber-physical systems (CPS) across various operational technology (OT) environments. The lead process control engineer responsible for much of the success sheds light on the company’s experiences, challenges, and achievements.

The company’s journey began with evaluating various cybersecurity tools, including Claroty and other leading vendors. Ultimately, Claroty’s Continuous Threat Detection (CTD) emerged as the preferred choice. The engineer highlights that CTD’s deep understanding of communication protocols and its insights into field automation components set it apart. This deep understanding allowed CTD to provide more comprehensive insights and align with the company’s priorities. Moreover, the availability of the solutions through an existing Claroty reseller within the region’s regulatory framework played a crucial role in the decision.

The journey didn’t stop with CTD. The introduction of Claroty xDome Secure Access played a vital role in achieving these goals, allowing engineers to work from a centralized location, reducing exposure to sites with hazardous areas, and enhancing both operational and cost efficiency. The shift from isolated components to increased connectivity was driven by improved network infrastructure and a better understanding of the benefits of secure access.

The strategic partnership with Claroty has significantly enhanced the organization’s OT resilience and security. The holistic approach taken by the company, combined with Claroty’s expertise and technology, has enabled them to effectively combat evolving cyber threats while optimizing operations and reducing risks in the challenging oil & gas environment.