Strengthening Operational Technology (OT) Cyber Security with Penetration Testing

A global manufacturer with operations across North and South America set out to assess and improve its cyber security posture across operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) environments. With growing digital complexity and an expanding global footprint, the organization turned to Claro Enterprise Solutions to perform a comprehensive Penetration Testing engagement.

Challenge

The organization aimed to mature its cyber defenses and gain visibility into the following:

  • The effectiveness of security controls between IT and OT networks
  • The potential “blast radius” if OT systems were breached
  • Cyber security monitoring and alerting gaps across regions
  • Response procedures in the event of a live cyber incident
  • Variations in network segmentation and standards across facilities

The Solution

Claro Enterprise Solutions conducted a three-week Penetration Testing engagement, delivered as a Purple Team exercise across multiple sites in North and South America.

Highlights of the engagement included:

  • Assessment of over 3,000 OT and IT devices
  • On-site testing in the U.S. and remote testing in Brazil
  • Real-time collaboration between Claro engineers and the client’s cyber security team
  • Adherence to best practices from ISA/IEC 62443, NIST CSF, and ISO 27001
  • Evidence-based reporting with CVSS scoring and remediation recommendations

The engagement was carefully scoped to avoid disruption to operations while maintaining constant communication with stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Validated Detection & Response: The client was able to test its ability to identify, assess, and respond to real-time threats across IT/OT boundaries
  • Critical Vulnerabilities Identified: Claro uncovered and documented high-risk exposures with clear, prioritized remediation steps
  • Operational Insights: The team provided a deep understanding of how an attack could propagate through the OT environment
  • Strategic Remediation Planning: The final report enabled the client to strengthen security controls and prioritize investment

Conclusion

Claro Enterprise Solutions’ Penetration Testing service empowered the client to uncover hidden risks, validate their cyber defense capabilities, and take actionable steps toward a more resilient OT environment. More than just identifying technical gaps, the engagement strengthened the client’s internal teams through collaboration, increased visibility, and shared expertise.

Through this partnership, the client gained:

  • Specialized expertise in OT and ICS security for critical infrastructure
  • Real-time collaboration and full transparency during the testing process
  • A proven, standards-based methodology aligned with global best practices
  • 24/7 bilingual support with regional presence across North and South America

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