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Xona Systems Launches Active Defense: A New Era in OT Security

In an era where remote access has become crucial for the management of critical infrastructures, Xona Systems has introduced a groundbreaking feature known as Active Defense. This capability aims to enhance the security of operational technology (OT) environments by allowing organizations to intercept threats instantly during remote access sessions, thus eliminating the time gap that previously left systems vulnerable.

The Importance of Active Defense

Remote connectivity has never been more vital for industries such as energy, manufacturing, transportation, and water utilities. However, this necessity also opens up pathways for malicious actors to infiltrate these operational environments. Recent cybersecurity advisories indicate a surge in attacks on remote access pathways, particularly from nation-state actors targeting critical sectors. Xona’s Active Defense is designed to mitigate this risk by ensuring timely response to any detected suspicious activity.

Raed Albuliwi, Chief Product Officer at Xona Systems, emphasizes that mere detection of suspicious activity is insufficient without immediate enforcement. He states, “Detection without enforcement leaves critical infrastructure exposed,” and highlights how Active Defense empowers security teams to act instantly when threats are identified.

How Active Defense Works

Active Defense integrates seamlessly with Xona's OT Asset Visibility and Vulnerability Platforms. When a potential threat is detected during a remote session, the system automatically correlates detection events with established policies. This triggers predefined enforcement actions that can include measures such as:

• - Step-up authentication: This process strengthens the identity verification during suspicious sessions.
• - Session suspension: Temporarily halting access to prevent further risk while assessment takes place.
• - Scoped access restrictions: Limiting the user’s ability to access sensitive parts of the system based on the evaluated risk.
• - Session termination: Completely ending the session if the threat is deemed severe enough.

By utilizing correlation-driven escalation, the Active Defense system can amalgamate multiple lower-severity alerts into a more significant enforcement decision. This approach allows organizations to gauge threats based on patterns, frequency, and timing of events, effectively applying measured responses while reducing false alarms.

Advantages Over Conventional Approaches

What distinguishes Active Defense from traditional methods is its capacity to intervene directly through managed remote access sessions without resorting to disruptive network-level controls. By focusing on session management, organizations can maintain operational continuity while effectively protecting against unauthorized access.

This innovative feature will be part of the Xona Secure Remote Access platform, which is adaptable for both on-premises and hybrid OT infrastructures. The ongoing RSA Conference will provide an opportunity for industry professionals to explore Active Defense further and understand how it fortifies defenses around remote access into critical infrastructure.

About Xona Systems

As a company specifically developed for critical infrastructure security, rather than adapting IT security tools, Xona Systems has deployed its platform in over 40 countries, covering sectors vital for societal functioning — from energy to maritime. By addressing the shortcomings of legacy VPNs and jump servers, Xona offers centralized governance across varied operations, resilient connectivity even under degraded conditions, and provides audit-ready documentation for regulatory compliance. Their solutions adhere to various standards, including NERC CIP and IEC 62443.

In conclusion, Xona Systems' Active Defense represents a significant step forward in cybersecurity for operational technology. As remote access threats continue to evolve, staying ahead through innovative security features like this one can make all the difference.

For more information, visit www.xonasystems.com and request a demonstration to see how Xona can secure your operational technology environments.