OT Penetration Testing
Controlled, OT-safe penetration testing that validates whether your security controls actually work. We simulate real attack techniques against your industrial environment while maintaining strict protections for safety systems and production processes.
Validating Controls Without Risking Operations
OT penetration testing requires a fundamentally different approach from IT. Standard penetration testing tools and techniques can crash controllers, corrupt PLC logic, or trigger safety shutdowns. The consequences of an uncontrolled test in an industrial environment range from production loss to physical safety incidents.
Our OT penetration testing methodology is built around strict rules of engagement that protect safety systems and production processes at every stage. We do not fuzz live controllers. We do not execute denial-of-service tests against production assets. We do not modify PLC logic or safety parameters.
Every test is coordinated with plant operations, with rollback procedures prepared before execution. Where possible, we validate attack techniques in lab or staging environments before interacting with production systems. The result is a realistic assessment of your security controls with zero risk to operational continuity.
OT-Safe Testing Principles
- Safety systems are always off-limits for active testing
- No denial-of-service or fuzzing against live controllers
- No modification of PLC logic or safety parameters
- All testing coordinated with plant operations
- Rollback procedures prepared for every test
- Lab or staging environments used where possible
OT-Safe Approach
Real attack simulation with zero risk to safety or production
Engagement Methodology
A structured, phased approach designed for the safety, availability, and compliance requirements of operational technology environments.
Scoping and Rules of Engagement
Define assessment boundaries, target systems, and explicit exclusions. Safety instrumented systems and active production processes are protected by strict rules of engagement. Agree on testing windows, escalation procedures, and rollback protocols with plant operations. Establish communication channels for real-time coordination during testing.
Reconnaissance and Intelligence Gathering
Gather intelligence using passive techniques only: network traffic analysis, public vulnerability data from ICS-CERT and vendor advisories, equipment documentation, and architecture review. Identify potential attack surfaces, exposed services, and protocol weaknesses without generating traffic that could affect production systems.
Controlled Exploitation (OT-Safe)
Execute controlled exploitation against identified vulnerabilities using OT-safe techniques. No denial-of-service testing against production systems. No fuzzing of live controllers. No modification of PLC logic or safety instrumented system parameters. Where possible, testing is performed against lab or staging replicas to validate findings before any interaction with production assets.
Lateral Movement and Privilege Escalation
Test zone boundary enforcement by attempting lateral movement between network segments. Evaluate credential reuse across systems, privilege escalation through misconfigurations, and trust relationship exploitation. Assess whether an attacker who compromises an IT system can pivot into OT zones, and whether segmentation controls effectively contain movement.
Findings Analysis and Evidence Documentation
Document all successful and attempted attack paths with full evidence including screenshots, packet captures, and step-by-step reproduction procedures. Analyze findings to determine operational impact, safety implications, and the conditions required for real-world exploitation. Map findings to MITRE ATT&CK for ICS tactics and techniques.
Remediation and Retest Guidance
Provide specific remediation guidance for each finding including direct fixes, compensating controls, and architectural recommendations. Where immediate patching is not feasible, define interim measures to reduce exposure. Include retest procedures so the organization can validate that remediation efforts effectively close each identified gap.
Service Deliverables
- OT penetration test report with full evidence
- Attack path documentation with exploitation chain analysis
- Risk-rated findings with operational impact assessment
- Remediation guidance with retest procedures
- Executive summary for leadership
Frameworks We Align With
Industries Served
Start Your OT Penetration Testing Engagement
Get in touch to discuss your specific OT environment and how we can scope this engagement for your organization.