Secure remote access (SRA) is how users connect from outside a network to internal systems using tools such as VPNs, jump servers, and remote desktops. But while these older tools can still connect users, they don't provide the visibility, identity controls, session monitoring, or risk management needed to secure operational technology (OT) environments. Safous offers a modern alternative that secures access based on identity, context, and real-time decisioning so you can protect systems without slowing down operations.
Remote privileged access is still a major factor in industrial security incidents, with one 2025 survey finding that unauthorized external access was involved in half of all OT cybersecurity incidents.1 Read on to learn why legacy SRA is no longer enough to protect modern OT environments – and what industrial cybersecurity should look like instead.
Secure remote access tools allow users or systems outside of an organization’s network to connect to internal applications, servers, or devices. Some popular examples include:
While these worked great when remote access needs were simpler, today’s industrial organizations need modern tools that can support hybrid teams, cloud workloads, third-party vendors, and industrial control systems (ICS) operating all together.
Legacy SRA tools weren't built for how OT environments work. Here's how these solutions fall short:
Legacy SRA solutions grant access at the network level instead of at the identity level. So once a user is connected, they can access large portions of the network. This all-or-nothing approach makes it hard to apply least-privilege principles or restrict workflows based on role, leaving users with more permissions than they actually need.
Modern OT environments need remote access tools that can verify who is connecting, what they need to access, and whether the request makes sense in that moment. Without this level of control, you’re likely exposing sensitive systems to unnecessary risk.
Only 12% of organizations have extensive monitoring capabilities set up within their OT networks.2 Traditional SRA solutions might log the fact that someone connected, but they don’t record or monitor the sessions so that security teams can see what happens after a connection is established. This lack of visibility makes it difficult to detect suspicious activity and investigate incidents after they occur.
Most legacy SRA tools are built on the assumption that all traffic will flow through the cloud. Your users connect to the cloud service, which then routes them to the internal system. But because many industrial facilities have limited or no internet connectivity for security reasons, cloud-connected remote access solutions can't actually provide access when you need it most.
OT environments usually include air-gapped or legacy systems that can't support endpoint agents or modern security clients. Instead, they need solutions that can secure remote access without installing software on endpoints and without requiring traffic to flow through a cloud service.
Safous supports agentless access and flexible deployment options, including offline and on-premises modes that work with isolated systems.
Over 35% of data breaches in 2024 were linked to third-party access.3 In industrial environments, third-party vendors and contractors frequently require temporary, specific access to systems. But because legacy SRA tools lack just-in-time access, scoped permissions, and session governance, vendors are often forced to use broad VPN credentials or install client software – creating even more compliance and security challenges.
Legacy remote access tools often require significant manual setup and ongoing management. Security and IT teams must:
These manual tasks increase the risk of misconfiguration and delay response when access is needed quickly.
Safous reduces this overhead by centralizing identity-based access control, policy enforcement, and audit logging on a single platform -- streamlining operations and improving consistency across the board.
As organizations grow, so do their access needs. Unfortunately, legacy SRA tools struggle to scale effectively, VPN appliances can become bottlenecks, and jump servers may require separate maintenance at each location. These limitations make it difficult to support distributed teams, multi-site operations, or dynamic third-party access.
Legacy remote access tools often deliver slow connections, complex login processes, and unreliable performance, frustrating internal users and external partners alike. Poor user experience can lead to unsafe workarounds, such as shared credentials or unsanctioned remote tunnels.
A modern approach streamlines access with single sign-on, multi-factor authentication, and context-aware policies without compromising security.
The way OT infrastructure works has changed, but legacy SRA tools haven't. Trying to secure the new realities of industrial networks with tools built for yesterday puts you in an impossible position. You need an access solution built for the reality of modern operations.
Safous Privileged Remote Access replaces outdated SRA tools with an all-in-one security platform that aligns with Zero Trust principles. It provides:
With Safous, you get identity-based remote access that provides the visibility, governance, and control required for modern industrial security and compliance. Book a demo today to see how Safous can modernize your remote access strategy.
Legacy SRA solutions provide connectivity without deep control, visibility, or identity enforcement. Modern solutions like Safous improve on this model by tying access to verified identity and context, enforcing least privilege principles, and recording session activity for better security and auditability.
Yes. Safous provides consistent access governance across cloud apps, on-prem servers, and OT systems – including offline or air-gapped environments – without requiring endpoint agents.
Safous connects vendors through secure, browser-based sessions with scoped access and time limits. Supervisor teams can monitor, record, and audit all privileged sessions to reduce risk and meet compliance expectations for third-party access.
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