Secure OT Access for Auto Manufacturers

This white paper explains how Safous Privileged Remote Access provides agentless, Zero Trust access for automotive manufacturing IT and OT environments. It is for plant security, OT engineering and supplier-management teams controlling access by OEMs, suppliers and remote engineers. It covers sector risks, access use cases, a global manufacturer example and the reference architecture.

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Key Challenges in Automotive Manufacturing

• Rockwell Automation's State of Smart Manufacturing reports that 97% of automotive manufacturers and suppliers are using or evaluating smart manufacturing technology, adding systems and identities to secure.
• IBM's 2025 Threat Intelligence Index found manufacturing was the most attacked industry for the fourth consecutive year, with identity-based attacks accounting for 30% of intrusions.
• Robotics, smart factory systems and OEM connections across the supply chain increase exposure.
• Disconnected security tools and manual approvals slow maintenance and emergency response.
• There is often no secure way to transfer files into OT environments.

How Safous Helps

• OEMs and suppliers reach PLCs, HMIs and diagnostic systems without VPNs or direct network exposure.
• Access to robotics controllers, sensors and monitoring systems without agents on sensitive devices.
• Least-privilege access based on identity, role and session context.
• Agentless access with MFA, credential vaulting and integrated ICAP file scanning, with no change to network topology.
• Segmentation, supervision and audit trails supporting IEC 62443 and regional guidelines such as JAMA/JAPIA.
• One console for plants in APAC, North America and EMEA; on-premises, hybrid or fully offline deployment.
• Browser-based access and a single outbound Safous AppGateway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do OEMs and suppliers need a VPN to support plant systems?

No. They reach PLCs, HMIs and diagnostic systems through Safous without VPNs or direct network exposure.

Is software required on PLCs or HMIs?

No. Safous requires no software on PLCs, HMIs or legacy OT systems, which avoids downtime during rollout.

Which automotive guidelines does Safous support?

The white paper references IEC 62443 and regional guidelines such as JAMA/JAPIA, with separate Safous checklists for each.

Learn more: Safous Industrial Secure Remote Access and regulatory compliance.