As manufacturing, utilities, and critical‑infrastructure operators move toward digital transformation, the question is no longer if they'll have to grant remote access, but how they can do it safely. While many organizations have turned to SASE to modernize IT access, these solutions fall short when applied to OT and industrial control systems (ICS).
This blog breaks down what SASE offers, where it falls short for OT environments, and how Safous fills those gaps with purpose-built capabilities.
Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) is a cloud-native model that secures connectivity by combining networking and security into a single platform. It includes technologies like SD-WAN, secure web gateways (SWG), cloud access security brokers (CASB), firewall as a service (FWaaS), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). The goal of SASE is to help distributed users securely access enterprise apps without routing traffic through traditional VPN hubs.
For IT teams, this approach makes sense. It offers central policy control, traffic inspection, and flexible routing at scale. But OT security has very different requirements.
Industrial systems often run on-premise, use legacy protocols, or exist in air-gapped or offline networks. They require predictable performance with low latency and minimal disruption, but SASE’s cloud-based design can introduce delays or force routing that breaks OT workflows.
There are a few major limitations when it comes to applying SASE to OT environments, which we explore below.
Most SASE solutions assume traffic will traverse the internet and be processed in their cloud backbone. That model breaks down in OT, where systems often require on‑site control, air‑gapped connectivity, or legacy protocols that can't be redirected through a cloud inspection layer without risking latency or downtime.
In short: OT needs minimal disruption and deterministic performance, yet many SASE deployments assume the opposite.
Vendor technicians, engineers, and service providers often require temporary, high‑privilege access to sensitive OT systems like SCADA, HMI, or field PLC devices. However, standard SASE tools built for regular users don't typically include remote privileged access controls such as session recording, command whitelisting, live supervision, just‑in‑time (JIT) privileges, or credential vaulting – all of which are essential in OT environments where a misstep can impact production, safety, or both.
Unauthorized third-party access accounted for half of all OT cybersecurity incidents in 2025.1 Since many remote vendors, contractors, and field technicians connect to OT systems using outdated devices or from locations with no internet access, these environments need flexible solutions that accommodate a wide range of users and system types.
Many SASE tools still require endpoint agents, assume uniform corporate devices, or route access via corporate proxies, which can block needed access or force insecure workarounds.
Safous Privileged Remote Access combines Zero‑Trust network access, privileged access management (PAM), and identity‑based authentication into a single platform designed to simplify privileged operation governance.
Safous is built to meet the specific demands of OT environments. Whether you’re securing remote vendors or managing air-gapped systems, Safous helps you do it with confidence and control.
SASE is a powerful tool for IT‑centric workforces and distributed cloud applications – but on its own, it doesn’t fully address the complex needs of ICS/OT systems. If production, safety, vendor access, legacy protocols, or air‑gapped plants are part of your landscape, you’ll need a security solution built for that reality.
Safous provides exactly that: privileged remote access tailored for the OT world, layered with Zero‑Trust, PAM, and unified identity controls, so you can secure every connection without slowing operations.
Securing connectivity and governing privileged operations are distinct responsibilities, and effective security strategies must address both independently.
Ready to see how Safous can secure your OT access without compromise? Book a demo today.
No. This is not an IT vs. OT problem—it is about the distinction between connectivity-focused security and privileged operation governance. Both IT and OT environments require privileged access controls. The challenge in OT is that these controls must coexist with deterministic performance and legacy systems, which SASE does not natively support.
No. SASE governs network connectivity, while Safous governs the actions and sessions of high-privilege users. They operate at different layers and serve complementary but distinct purposes. Organizations may use both, but they are not interchangeable.
No. Safous secures privileged access governance across both IT and OT environments. Any organization with vendors, contractors, or engineers requiring temporary elevated access, regardless of whether they're accessing cloud apps, on-premise systems, or industrial assets, benefits from purpose-built privileged access controls.
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