OT Cyber Direct Cyber Security Product Testing Process
At OT Cyber Direct, we rigorously evaluate cybersecurity products to ensure they meet the demands of industrial environments. This extensive knowledge enables us to provide in-depth assessments that help businesses deploy effective and reliable security solutions.
Inside the lab
Every product is tested on a working IT/OT network, from the cloud down to the PLCs. Select a marker to see what's there.
Scroll sideways to see the whole lab.
Our testing facility
Our state-of-the-art lab in Boston, MA, is equipped with enterprise-class servers, SCADA software, PLCs, industrial switches, and various other OT devices. Additionally, our lab includes cloud connectivity to an instance of AWS, allowing us to test cloud-integrated solutions under real-world conditions.
Shop tested productsAWS instance
Cloud connectivity to an AWS instance lets us test cloud-integrated solutions under real-world conditions.
Enterprise servers
Enterprise-class servers stand in for the IT side of a real site, so products are tested where IT and OT meet.
Data diodes
We verify that one-way transfer and advertised features hold up in a controlled lab environment.
Shop data diodes and TAPsIndustrial firewalls
Firewalls are judged on installation time, configuration effort and how clearly they present policy to OT and IT teams.
Shop industrial firewallsNetwork TAPs
TAPs pass copies of network traffic to monitoring tools without adding load to the control network.
Shop data diodes and TAPsOT network monitoring
Monitoring platforms are scored on how they detect, report and help mitigate the threats we simulate.
Shop OT network monitoringThreat simulation
We run cyber threat scenarios against every product under test to see what it catches and how it responds.
SCADA software
SCADA software on the supervisory layer gives products real industrial traffic to see, parse and protect.
Industrial switches
Industrial switches carry the lab's control traffic and support segmentation testing between zones.
Shop network segmentationPLCs and OT devices
PLCs and other OT devices at the bottom of the stack are where integration capability gets proven.
Our testing facility
Our state-of-the-art lab in Boston, MA, is equipped with enterprise-class servers, SCADA software, PLCs, industrial switches, and various other OT devices. Additionally, our lab includes cloud connectivity to an instance of AWS, allowing us to test cloud-integrated solutions under real-world conditions.
Shop tested productsKey evaluation criteria
Our expert testers bring over 30 years of experience in control systems design and development, with more than 20 years dedicated to developing OT cybersecurity solutions. Every product is judged on the same five measures.
Ease of installation
We assess how quickly and efficiently a product can be deployed in an OT environment, ensuring minimal setup time and effort.
Ease of use
We evaluate the UI, configuration options, and operational complexity to determine whether the product is intuitive for OT and IT teams.
Threat detection and response
We simulate cyber threat scenarios to evaluate how the product detects, reports, and mitigates threats.
Feature validation
We verify that advertised features align with real-world performance in a controlled lab environment.
Integration capability
Products must support integration with OT infrastructure and external systems via APIs where applicable.
Deployed out of the box in hours or days, not weeks or months.
We do not promote products that are difficult to install, operate, or integrate. Our goal is to provide pre-qualified technologies that can be easily deployed out of the box in hours or days, rather than weeks or months. By eliminating complex or cumbersome solutions, we help our customers secure their environments quickly and efficiently.
At OT Cyber Direct, we are committed to ensuring that every product we endorse is a practical, high-performing, and seamless addition to OT Cyber frameworks. Our testing process provides businesses with confidence that they are investing in solutions that truly work in the field.