Securing Industrial Environments with Confidence
As industrial systems become increasingly digitized and connected, protecting operational technology (OT) from cyber threats has become a top priority. These environments are critical to safety, productivity, and regulatory compliance—making cybersecurity an essential, not optional, investment.
Whether your organization is just beginning its OT security journey or seeking to mature its defenses, partnering with seasoned experts can help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
At Insane Cyber, we bring practical experience from the field. Our OT cybersecurity specialists have helped organizations across industries strengthen their defenses with tailored, results-driven solutions.
This guide outlines the core types of OT cybersecurity service engagements, explains how each fits into different stages of a security program, and helps you choose the right approach for your organization.
Navigating OT Cybersecurity Engagements
Every industrial organization has its own operational challenges and risk profile. To meet this diversity of needs, OT cybersecurity services are offered in a variety of formats. These engagements help evaluate current risks, validate security programs, and build a more resilient infrastructure.
While approaches vary by client, they generally fall into four categories:
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OT Cybersecurity Assessments
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OT Vulnerability Assessments
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OT Penetration Testing
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Tabletop Exercises (TTXs)
Understanding what each engagement offers—and when to use them—empowers your team to make smarter, more strategic security decisions.
Active vs. Passive Engagements: What’s the Difference?
Before diving into the engagement types, it’s helpful to understand how they’re conducted.
Passive Engagements
Passive engagements gather information without directly interacting with live systems. These are ideal when safety or uptime concerns rule out active testing. Common passive methods include:
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Exporting configuration files
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Capturing network traffic
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Conducting interviews and workshops with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
All analysis takes place outside the production environment, keeping operations untouched while providing valuable insights.
Active Engagements
Active engagements involve testing the environment—either directly or through a controlled simulation. These are conducted carefully under strict rules to avoid impacting operations. Examples include:
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Penetration tests simulating real-world attacks
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Targeted vulnerability scans on non-production systems
Core OT Cybersecurity Service Types
1. OT Cybersecurity Assessment
This is often the starting point for organizations new to OT security. It provides a comprehensive look at your current environment, including:
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Network architecture and critical systems
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Existing security policies and procedures
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Day-to-day cyber practices and awareness
You’ll receive a detailed report with prioritized recommendations, giving your team a solid foundation for building or enhancing your OT security program.
2. OT Vulnerability Assessment
This engagement identifies weaknesses across your OT infrastructure. While it doesn’t involve exploiting vulnerabilities, it’s designed to uncover and document potential entry points, such as:
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Unpatched software and firmware
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Misconfigured systems or devices
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Weaknesses in network segmentation or system design
The findings help organizations prioritize remediation without risking system disruption.
3. OT Penetration Testing
For more mature organizations, penetration testing puts your defenses to the test. By simulating an attacker’s tactics, these engagements:
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Reveal how an adversary might gain access
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Assess how well your defenses hold up under real-world pressure
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Identify gaps in monitoring, detection, and response
These tests offer deep insight into how your environment would respond to a targeted attack.
4. Tabletop Exercises (TTXs)
Tabletop Exercises are collaborative simulations designed to test incident response readiness. Without touching live systems, your team walks through a realistic scenario to:
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Identify gaps in communication or procedures
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Clarify team roles during a cyber event
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Build confidence in your response capabilities
Each session is customized to reflect your organization’s structure, systems, and risk landscape.
Which Engagement is Right for You?
Here’s a practical way to approach OT cybersecurity services based on your current security maturity:
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Getting Started? Begin with a Cybersecurity Assessment to understand where you stand.
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Need More Insight? Follow up with a Vulnerability Assessment to pinpoint specific issues.
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Ready to Validate? Use Penetration Testing to challenge your defenses and uncover blind spots.
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Focus on Preparedness? Conduct Tabletop Exercises regularly to sharpen your incident response.
For organizations with regulatory obligations like NERC CIP or IEC 62443, engagements can be aligned to meet compliance goals while improving your overall security posture.
Why Work with Insane Cyber?
At Insane Cyber, we don’t just analyze—we partner with you to create meaningful change. Here’s what sets us apart:
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Hands-On Expertise
Our team has spent years working in real OT environments. We understand what’s at stake and how to protect it. -
Collaborative Approach
We engage directly with your security, operations, and compliance teams to ensure lasting improvements. -
Actionable Results
Every engagement delivers clear, prioritized recommendations that your team can immediately put into action.
Cyber threats targeting industrial systems are growing more sophisticated every year. Taking a proactive approach through expert-led engagements is one of the smartest moves you can make to protect your infrastructure.
Contact our team today to get started.