From electric utilities to water treatment and pharmaceutical plants, OT and CPS systems keep critical operations safe and running. Yet these environments increasingly face pressure to connect with external networks for monitoring, vendor support, patch management, and data sharing.
Remote access has become a necessity, but it also introduces serious risks. Traditional VPNs and jump servers, while convenient, create potential attack paths for adversaries. Recent attacks have shown that once an attacker gains remote access credentials or exploits an exposed connection, they can disrupt operations, exfiltrate sensitive data, or even cause physical damage to critical systems or operators. In early 2024, threat actors successfully infiltrated municipal water facilities, causing storage tanks to overflow and sending thousands of gallons of water into the streets
That’s where secure remote access technology comes in. By enforcing strict authentication, controlling user permissions, monitoring activity, and applying advanced data inspection, organizations can enable necessary connectivity without sacrificing the integrity of their OT networks. Secure remote access bridges the gap between productivity and protection, allowing operators, vendors, and engineers to do their jobs while keeping adversaries out.
Benefits of Secure Remote Access in OT and CPS
- Operational Continuity: Ensures engineers and vendors can troubleshoot, patch, and maintain systems without being onsite.
- Reduced Attack Surface: Unlike traditional remote connections, advanced solutions isolate and control access to specific assets instead of opening the entire network.
- Compliance Alignment: Supports regulatory requirements like NERC CIP, IEC 62443, and other standards that demand strict control over remote access.
- Data Integrity and Security: Protects sensitive operational and compliance data from interception or tampering.
MetaDefender OT Access v2.1.0: Secure Remote Access from On-Prem to Cloud
MetaDefender OT Access has long been trusted to safeguard OT and CPS environments through advanced threat prevention and controlled data transfers. With the release of v2.1.0, we’re taking secure connectivity to the next level by focusing on file sanitization on both cloud and on-prem deployments.
Here are the major enhancements in this release:
1. Unified Code Base for Cloud and On-Prem Versions
By aligning both versions under a single code base, MetaDefender OT Access is now easier to maintain, update, and enhance. This ensures faster delivery of new features and security patches across environments.
2. MetaDefender Core Enabled Across Cloud and On-Prem
Organizations can now leverage MetaDefender Core consistently, regardless of deployment choice. This flexibility allows IT and OT teams to adopt a hybrid security strategy without worrying about capability gaps.
3. Improved MetaDefender Core Integration for Automated File Retrieval
MetaDefender OT Access v2.1.0 introduces streamlined integration so that files can be automatically retrieved into the OT network using the same proven system deployed for MetaDefender Managed File Transfer (MFT). This reduces manual effort, ensures consistency, and strengthens overall data security.
Why This Matters for Critical Infrastructure Operators
With MetaDefender OT Access v2.1.0, organizations can:
- Simplify deployment and reduce complexity with a unified platform.
- Gain consistent protection and file sanitization capabilities across cloud and on-prem environments.
- Ensure critical files and updates are securely and automatically delivered to OT networks.
In short, MetaDefender OT Access v2.1.0 makes secure remote access and file transfer more reliable, easier to manage, and safer than ever.
As OT and CPS environments become increasingly dependent on remote connectivity, the need for secure our remote access technologies grows ever more urgent. With MetaDefender OT Access, OPSWAT is reinforcing its commitment to helping critical infrastructure operators balance the need for connectivity with the highest levels of security.
Release Details:
- Release Date: October 7th, 2025
- Release Notes: LINK
