Operational Technology
Due to their critical role in industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, energy and utilities, Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) have become increasingly targeted by adversary groups. Our tailored penetration testing for OT and ICS sensitively simulates real-world cyberattacks, to uncover vulnerabilities before these adversaries can exploit them. This proactive approach is essential for safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring operational resilience.
Penetration Testing
What We Test in OT/ICS Testing
Our penetration testing service rigorously evaluates OT/ICS environments to identify exploitable vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and attack chains before adversaries can strike. Tailored for critical infrastructure, AnchorSec’s approach delivers comprehensive assessments that evaluate the entire OT posture while carefully respecting the sensitivity of these systems - providing actionable insights to strengthen defenses, without disruption to operations.
We focus on identifying exploitable vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and attack paths that could lead to data loss, service disruptions, financial loss, breach of regulatory compliance and safety hazards.
Our trusted process combines comprehensive scoping, hacking methodologies aligned with relevant industry standards, and detailed reporting with prioritised, actionable remediation steps.
Key areas of assessment include:
Vulnerability Research of OT/ICS Devices: We conduct in-depth examinations of hardware, firmware, and software components—such as those in PLCs, remote terminal units (RTUs), and industrial IoT endpoints.
Asset Discovery and Inventory Validation: We identify all OT-connected devices and cross reference them against the authorised asset inventory to establish any anomalies.
Network Segmentation & Access Controls: We examine the separation between IT and OT networks, looking for flat networks, misconfigured firewalls and DMZs, and weak access controls that could allow lateral movement.
Device & Protocol Security: We ascertain the presence of default or weak credentials on PLCs and RTUs, exposed management interfaces, and the use of insecure protocols (e.g., Modbus, DNP3) that lack encryption or authentication.
Determinism: We check that automated processes behave consistently, ensuring that systems respond as expected even under stress or attack scenarios.
Remote Access & Supply Chain Risks: We assess remote access paths, supplier accounts, and third-party integrations for vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, including insecure VPNs and unmonitored maintenance ports.
Patch Management, Configuration & System Hardening: We examine how OT systems are updated, configured and hardened, and identify any outdated or vulnerable components.
Incident Response & Monitoring: Our approach also includes evaluating the effectiveness of logging, monitoring, and incident response procedures, tailored for OT-specific scenarios.
Our Services
AnchorSec offers a range of offensive security services to fortify your digital defences.
Web Apps
Mobile Apps
Cloud
APIs
Hardware/IoT
Devices
Infrastructure
User/Social
Behaviour
CI/CD
Pipelines
Industrial Control Systems
Contact
Whether you have questions about our services, need a tailored assessment, or want to explore a partnership, we’re here to help.