In an increasingly interconnected world, research firm Gartner identified that the protection of cyber-physical systems (CPS) has emerged as a critical priority for organizations across industries. From manufacturing and utilities to healthcare and transportation, CPS are the backbone of modern operations, enabling real-time, reliable, and resilient performance.
However, as these systems become more connected, they also become more vulnerable to cyber threats. This has given rise to a new market category: cyber-physical systems protection platforms (CPS PPs). These platforms are designed to discover, categorize, map, and protect CPS in production or mission-critical environments, offering a comprehensive solution to the growing challenges of securing these vital assets.
Growing need for CPS protection platforms
CPS, often referred to as operational technology (OT), industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), or smart building solutions, are engineered systems that interact with the physical world. They are integral to value creation in asset-intensive industries, but their increasing connectivity has expanded the attack surface, making them prime targets for ransomware, industrial espionage, and geopolitically motivated attacks. Recent incidents, such as operational disruptions in pipeline operators and halted machinery at shipbuilders, underscore the urgency of securing these systems.
The traditional approach to securing CPS—relying on network-centric tools or generic OT security measures—is no longer sufficient. Organizations are now asking critical questions: What CPS do I have? How do they connect? What is their risk profile, and how can I improve my security controls? These questions have driven the emergence of an asset-centric security discipline, with CPS protection platforms at its core.
Shift toward CPS protection platforms
According to Gartner, the adoption of CPS protection platforms is set to accelerate in the coming years. By 2027, 75 percent of CPS-intensive organizations will obtain cybersecurity capabilities from CPS PPs, marking a significant shift away from point solutions. Additionally, 45 percent of organizations will prioritize remediation capabilities as a key selection criterion for these platforms, emphasizing the importance of actionable insights over mere visibility.
This shift reflects a broader trend in cybersecurity: the move from ‘knowing’ to ‘doing.’ Organizations are no longer satisfied with simply identifying vulnerabilities; they want tools that provide clear, actionable recommendations to mitigate risks and enhance security controls.
Defining CPS protection platforms market
Gartner defines CPS protection platforms as products that leverage knowledge of industrial protocols, operational network traffic, and physical process asset behavior to secure CPS in production or mission-critical environments. These platforms can be delivered via the cloud, on-premises, or in hybrid form, offering flexibility to meet diverse organizational needs.
CPS PPs are designed to address the unique challenges of securing CPS, which differ significantly from traditional IT environments. For example, CPS often rely on proprietary industrial protocols, cannot be patched at will, and require specialized tools for asset discovery and vulnerability management. CPS protection platforms bridge this gap by providing vendor-native asset discovery, detailed network topology mapping, and integration with IT security tools, among other features.
Why CPS protection platforms are essential
The need for CPS protection platforms is driven by several key factors:
- Growing Attack Surface: As CPS become more connected, they become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. The consequences of a successful attack can be severe, ranging from halted production to mission-critical failures.
- Rising Threats: Malware specifically designed for industrial environments, such as INDUSTROYER.V2 and Pipedream, is on the rise, highlighting the need for specialized security solutions.
- Unmanageable Vulnerabilities: Many CPS cannot be patched easily, leaving them exposed to known vulnerabilities. CPS PPs provide actionable recommendations to mitigate these risks.
- Regulatory Pressures: Governments worldwide are introducing new regulations, directives, and frameworks to protect critical infrastructure, recognizing the importance of CPS to national security and economic prosperity.
- Inefficient Manual Processes: Traditional asset inventory methods are time-consuming and costly, while IT security tools are often ill-suited for CPS environments.
Mandatory and common features of CPS protection platforms
To secure CPS, protection platforms must offer a range of mandatory and common features. Mandatory features include:
- Vendor-native asset discovery, visibility, and categorization
- Support for modern and legacy industrial protocols
- Detailed network topology and data flow diagrams
- Vulnerability and threat intelligence information with recommended actions
- Integration with IT security tools
- Risk scoring and remediation guidance
Common features include baseline and configuration management, incident response and forensics, network segmentation capabilities, and compliance reporting for various security frameworks. These features ensure that organizations can not only identify risks but also take proactive steps to mitigate them.
Future of CPS security
As the threat landscape continues to evolve, CPS protection platforms will play an increasingly vital role in safeguarding critical infrastructure and industrial operations. By 2027, the majority of CPS-intensive organizations will rely on these platforms to enhance their cybersecurity posture, driven by the need for comprehensive, actionable, and asset-centric solutions.
For cybersecurity leaders, the challenge lies in selecting the right vendor to meet their organization’s unique needs. By prioritizing remediation capabilities, integration with existing tools, and support for diverse industrial environments, organizations can ensure they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of CPS security in the years to come.
In a world where the physical and digital realms are increasingly intertwined, CPS protection platforms represent a critical step forward in securing the systems that power our modern economy. As threats continue to rise, these platforms will be indispensable in ensuring the safe, reliable, and resilient performance of cyber-physical systems across industries.
Magic Quadrant for CPS Protection Platforms
In its Magic Quadrant for CPS Protection Platforms, the Gartner report evaluated several industrial vendors including Armis, Cisco, Claroty, Darktrace, Dragos, Forescout Technologies, Fortinet, Honeywell, Microsoft, Nozomi Networks, OPSWAT, OTORIO, Palo Alto, Radiflow, Sepio, Tenable, and TXOne Networks.
“We review and adjust our inclusion criteria for Magic Quadrants as markets change. As a result of these adjustments, the mix of vendors in any Magic Quadrant may change over time,” Gartner identified. “A vendor’s appearance in a Magic Quadrant one year and not the next does not necessarily indicate that we have changed our opinion of that vendor. It may be a reflection of a change in the market and, therefore, changed evaluation criteria, or of a change of focus by that vendor.”
