OT Cybersecurity Audit

An OT (Operational Technology) security audit is a comprehensive assessment of operational technology systems designed to identify security gaps, evaluate risk, and support the implementation of safeguards against cyber threats. For organisations operating in the industrial, energy, or manufacturing sectors, an audit is essential for maintaining operational continuity, protecting critical infrastructure, and meeting applicable industry requirements. Inadequate safeguards may result in serious consequences, including downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage.

An OT security audit provides organisations with a range of important benefits, including:

• Identifying potential security gaps that could be exploited by cybercriminals.
• Minimising the risk of operational downtime and financial losses caused by cyberattacks.
• Supporting compliance with current industry requirements, including NIS2, IEC 62443, and ISO 27001.
• Improving the resilience of operational infrastructure to cyber threats and strengthening incident-management processes.
• Enhancing the long-term security of OT systems through the implementation of recognised good practices and monitoring tools.

The duration of an audit depends on the size and complexity of the OT infrastructure. For smaller systems, an audit may take from several days to one week. For larger and more complex installations, a full audit may take several weeks. The schedule and scope are tailored to the client’s requirements to minimise disruption to ongoing business operations.

An OT security audit is designed to minimise its impact on the organisation’s ongoing operations. Our approach includes detailed planning of all audit activities, allowing most analyses to be carried out without interfering with critical processes. If certain tasks require real-time intervention, they are performed safely and in a controlled manner, without putting operational continuity at risk.

An OT security audit helps identify and address a wide range of threats, including:

• Ransomware: attacks that encrypt or block access to systems and demand payment to restore them.
• Malware: malicious software designed to disrupt the operation of systems and devices.
• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): sophisticated, long-term attacks that are difficult to detect and may be intended to gain control of OT systems.
• Unauthorised access: security breaches resulting from misconfigured systems or insufficient access controls.
• Insider threats: risks associated with authorised employees having inappropriate access to critical systems without adequate control procedures.

One of the key elements of an OT security audit is assessing whether the infrastructure is aligned with applicable regulations and industry standards. The audit helps organisations adapt their systems to internationally recognised requirements such as IEC 62443, ISO 27001, and the NIS2 Directive. Meeting these requirements not only reduces the risk of financial penalties and sanctions, but also strengthens the confidence of customers and business partners, which is particularly important in tendering processes and international cooperation.

After the audit is completed, we provide a detailed report containing the findings and recommended corrective actions. Implementation includes the following stages:

1. Identifying priorities: determining the most critical security gaps that require immediate action.
2. Implementing recommendations: deploying safeguards such as real-time monitoring, intrusion-prevention systems, and identity and access management.
3. Testing the solutions: conducting attack simulations to verify that the implemented safeguards operate as intended.
4. Training personnel: preparing the client’s team to manage the implemented systems effectively and respond to incidents.

Yes. We provide comprehensive support after the audit recommendations have been implemented. This may include regular security testing, system updates, network monitoring, and ongoing incident-management support. Depending on the client’s needs, we can also provide dedicated employee training to improve OT cybersecurity awareness and capabilities.

This depends on the organisation’s sector, size, and the importance of the services it provides. The NIS2 Directive and the Polish National Cybersecurity System Act (uKSC) cover, among others, companies operating in manufacturing, energy, water supply, transport, healthcare, and digital infrastructure.
If your organisation uses OT, SCADA, or PLC systems and operates in a regulated sector, it is worth verifying its status as early as possible. An OT cybersecurity audit helps assess preparedness for NIS2 and uKSC requirements and identifies the actions needed to achieve compliance.

IT cybersecurity focuses primarily on protecting data, applications, and business systems. OT cybersecurity protects technological processes, machinery, industrial equipment, and critical infrastructure. In OT environments, the key priorities are:

• System availability.
• Production continuity.
• Operational safety.
• The safety of people and the environment.

An OT audit therefore requires a different approach from a traditional IT security audit.

An OT cybersecurity audit is particularly recommended for organisations operating industrial systems and critical infrastructure, including:

• Manufacturing companies.
• The energy sector.
• Water and wastewater utilities.
• Critical-infrastructure operators.
• Chemical and petrochemical companies.
• The transport sector.
• The food sector.
• District-heating operators.
• The gas sector.

It is especially important for entities subject to NIS2 and uKSC requirements.

A NIS2-aligned OT cybersecurity audit assesses the technical and organisational security measures used to protect industrial environments. Its scope most commonly includes:

• OT asset inventory.
• Industrial network architecture analysis.
• Assessment of SCADA and PLC systems.
• OT cybersecurity risk analysis.
• Assessment of security procedures.
• Access management.
• Vulnerability management.
• Incident response.
• Business continuity.
• Security of suppliers and subcontractors.

The duration depends on the size of the organisation, the number of sites, and the complexity of the industrial infrastructure.
For a single production facility, the audit may involve several days to several weeks of analytical and on-site work. The detailed scope is agreed during project planning.

Preparation should begin with a review of the OT infrastructure, identification of key assets, and an initial risk assessment. It is also helpful to:

• Organise documentation.
• Conduct an asset inventory.
• Analyse suppliers.
• Assess security procedures.
• Implement fundamental OT protection measures.

A professional OT audit enables gaps to be identified before the mandatory inspection.

Yes.
The NIS2 Directive and the KSC Act place particular emphasis on supply-chain security. Organisations must identify suppliers that affect the security of systems and services and manage the associated risk appropriately. This also applies to companies servicing OT systems and providing remote access to infrastructure.

Implementing NIS2 and KSC requirements takes time, involves multiple departments, and often requires modernisation of existing infrastructure. An early OT cybersecurity audit enables an organisation to:

• Spread activities over time.
• Control implementation costs.
• Minimise incident risk.
• Prepare for mandatory inspections.
• Achieve NIS2 compliance in industrial environments without acting under deadline pressure.

Yes, many manufacturing plants may fall within the scope of the NIS2 Directive and the Polish National Cybersecurity System Act (uKSC). Applicability depends on the sector, company size, and the importance of the services provided to the economy and society. Particular relevance applies to organisations operating in sectors classified as essential or important, including the manufacture of critical products, energy, water and wastewater management, transport, and the chemical industry.
For industrial facilities, this means implementing appropriate cybersecurity risk-management measures, protecting OT systems, and preparing to meet NIS2 and uKSC requirements. In practice, the first step is usually a NIS2-aligned OT cybersecurity audit that assesses the organisation’s level of preparedness for the new obligations.

Under NIS2 requirements, responsibility for cybersecurity is not limited to IT or automation departments.

The organisation’s leadership and persons performing management functions are responsible for ensuring an appropriate level of cybersecurity. In practice, OT security activities most commonly involve:

• The management board and organisational leadership.
• Production directors.
• Maintenance managers.
• OT and automation teams.
• IT teams.
• Cybersecurity specialists.
• Persons responsible for regulatory compliance.

The NIS2 Directive emphasises management involvement in cybersecurity risk management rather than limiting these activities to technical teams.

The NIS2 Directive does not explicitly require the implementation of a Security Operations Center (SOC) or an Industrial Security Operations Center (iSOC).

However, NIS2 requires appropriate measures for detecting, monitoring, and responding to cybersecurity incidents.

In industrial environments, SOC or iSOC solutions are among the most effective ways to support these requirements by enabling:

• Continuous OT cybersecurity monitoring.
• Real-time threat detection.
• Incident analysis.
• Event correlation.
• Support for incident-reporting processes.

For this reason, an OT cybersecurity audit often assesses the need to implement industrial security monitoring as part of NIS2 and uKSC compliance.

NIS2 does not prescribe specific technologies. However, network segmentation is recognised as a fundamental OT cybersecurity good practice.

Industrial security audits frequently identify cases in which IT and OT environments are not properly separated or communications between them are not adequately controlled. Industrial network segmentation helps to:

• Limit the spread of threats.
• Reduce the attack surface.
• Increase the security of SCADA and PLC systems.
• Improve the resilience of critical infrastructure.
• Meet requirements arising from IEC 62443.

Network segmentation is therefore one of the actions most commonly recommended following an OT cybersecurity audit.

An OT cybersecurity risk assessment should be a continuous process rather than a one-off activity performed solely for an audit. Good practice is to conduct a full risk assessment:

• After significant infrastructure changes.
• After the deployment of new technological systems.
• After a security incident.
• Following organisational changes.
• Periodically as part of the security management system.

Regular risk assessment enables faster identification of emerging threats and helps maintain alignment with NIS2, uKSC, and IEC 62443.

During an OT infrastructure audit, risk analysis is one of the most important elements used to assess the status of an organisation’s cybersecurity.

Yes, either indirectly or directly.

Supply-chain security is one of the key areas addressed by NIS2. The Directive requires organisations to assess the risks associated with technology suppliers, service providers, and subcontractors that have access to IT and OT systems.

Particular attention should be paid to companies responsible for:

• SCADA system maintenance.
• PLC servicing.
• Remote technical support.
• Automation-system integration.
• Network-infrastructure maintenance.
• Security monitoring.
• Cloud services used in industrial environments.

Suppliers with remote access to OT infrastructure often represent a significant cybersecurity risk vector. For this reason, an OT cybersecurity audit assesses not only the organisation’s safeguards, but also how relationships with suppliers and subcontractors are managed.

Good practice includes introducing security requirements into contracts, controlling supplier access to industrial systems, and regularly assessing supply-chain risk.

This area is particularly emphasised by both NIS2 and the amended KSC Act.