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The analysis of these 23 operational catastrophes reveals that the primary failure mode is the persistence of implicit trust within and between IT and OT networks. BlastWave’s Zero Trust architecture is designed to reverse this default trust model, ensuring that every access request is authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated, regardless of origin.
The most effective method of defense is to deny the attacker the ability to identify targets. Network cloaking achieves this by creating an “Invisible Network” overlay where OT assets are entirely invisible to unauthorized or unverified hosts.
When an attacker gains initial access (e.g., via a compromised credential or phishing link), their first step is reconnaissance, which involves scanning the network to identify valuable targets, protocols, and control systems. Cloaking defeats this critical stage of the attack kill chain. Ransomware, which often uses automated scanning techniques to find network shares or vulnerable systems (like NotPetya), cannot target what it cannot see. This principle ensures that even if an IT host is infected, the OT environment remains protected by obscurity, blocking unauthorized access before a connection can even be attempted.
Traditional network segmentation relies on static IP addresses, firewalls, and VLANs, which are complex to manage and prone to human error and misconfiguration. This known vulnerability enables ransomware to infiltrate OT. Identity-Defined Microsegmentation (IDM) transforms security enforcement by basing access policies on Who (the validated User Identity), What (the verified Device Posture), and Where (the specific application or service required).
This dynamic, identity-based approach counters the widespread credential theft vector exploited in attacks such as the Colonial Pipeline and the Ukraine Grid incident. Even if an attacker steals a valid user credential, they cannot use it to move laterally because the policy requires that identity to be paired with a cryptographically verified, authorized device attempting to access a specific, authorized port or application.
Generalized scanning, port access, or attempts to reach unauthorized OT systems are blocked by default. This method imposes a true, software-defined air gap, making lateral movement functionally impossible between segments.
The exploitation of insecure remote access (e.g., Oldsmar) and trusted vendors (e.g., Target) represents a persistent threat to CI. BlastWave addresses this by replacing persistent, exposed VPN/RDP infrastructure with dynamic, ephemeral micro-tunnels.
Access for vendors or remote employees is granted only for the necessary application and duration. The connection is established based on verified identity and device posture, and then automatically torn down and cloaked when the session ends. This eliminates the persistent target that generic remote tools present. Furthermore, this dynamic access structure mitigates the majority of insider threats, as 55% of insider incidents are caused by negligence.
By continuously assessing the device posture, BlastWave can automatically revoke access the moment a user’s device is flagged as compromised (e.g., due to malware infection), preventing negligent lateral spread before it escalates into an operational incident.
A detailed analysis of 23 critical infrastructure operational failures reveals a consistent pattern: these catastrophes were not caused by unpatchable zero-day vulnerabilities, but by preventable access failures, credential compromises, and uncontrolled lateral movement enabled by implicit network trust. The prevailing vulnerability is the persistence of wide-open, easily discoverable networks where initial IT compromise immediately gains the visibility and access necessary to pivot to the OT domain.
The immense financial and societal costs, from Maersk’s $300 million loss to the $10.22 million average US breach cost, demonstrate that the return on investment (ROI) for OT security must fundamentally shift. Instead of focusing resources on mitigating the inevitable costs of recovery, organizations must invest in solutions that guarantee operational resilience and prevent the attack from progressing past initial access.
BlastWave’s Zero Trust platform provides this technical solution by ensuring that the core vectors leveraged in these 23 incidents—exposed remote access, stolen valid credentials, and uncontrolled lateral communication—are rendered ineffective through network cloaking and Identity-Defined Microsegmentation.
BlastWave delivers a comprehensive Zero Trust Network Protection solution to provide the best possible outcome for OT environments. With a unique combination of network cloaking, secure remote access, and software-defined microsegmentation, we minimize the attack surface, eliminate passwords, and enable segmentation without network downtime.
To learn more, come to www.blastwave.com
Reading about past failures is only useful if it changes future outcomes. If attackers can see your OT network, they can target it. If they can target it, compliance, safety, and uptime are already at risk.
BlastWave eliminates reconnaissance, initial access, and lateral movement — without agents, without downtime, and without changing IPs, protocols, or PLCs.