Zeroport for Water Utilities

Zeroport for Water Utilities

In recent years, cyberattacks have increasingly targeted water utilities by exploiting insecure remote access and exposed control systems. While most incidents avoided catastrophic damage, they revealed systemic weaknesses that demand immediate attention.

The Growing Threat to Water Infrastructure

Early Warnings: Physical and Insider Attacks

The first known cyberattack on industrial control systems occurred over 25 years ago in Queensland, Australia, where a former employee manipulated sewage controllers, releasing nearly one million liters of waste. The incident demonstrated the real-world consequences of unauthorized system access.

Remote Access Becomes the Attack Vector

As systems became remotely accessible, attackers no longer needed physical proximity. In 2019, incidents in Kansas and later in Oldsmar, Florida exploited common remote access tools to manipulate water treatment systems—without sophisticated hacking techniques.

State-Sponsored and Hacktivist Escalation

Recent attacks show a rise in coordinated campaigns. In 2023, Iranian-linked actors breached water systems in Pennsylvania, while similar attacks occurred across Israel, Texas, and Europe. In Denmark, insecure VNC access enabled pressure manipulation that caused outages and infrastructure damage.

The Root Cause: Insecure Remote Access

IT/OT Convergence Without Protection

Many breaches stem from unsecured VPNs, remote desktop tools, and poor separation between IT and OT environments. Once attackers gain IT access, they can move laterally into operational systems with little resistance.

Why Software-Based Controls Fall Short

Legacy tools rely on credentials, IP connectivity, and shared networks—creating persistent attack paths that are difficult to monitor and easy to exploit.

Preventing the Next Incident

Eliminating Exposure at the Network Edge

True prevention requires removing internet-facing access entirely, enforcing physical separation, and replacing software-based tools with controlled, non-IP mechanisms.

Zeroport’s Hardware-Enforced Approach

Secure Remote Access Without Network Exposure

Zeroport enables remote operations without exposing networks to the internet. Its hardware-enforced gateway allows real-time interaction while blocking malware, lateral movement, and data leakage.
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Proven in Operational Utility Environments

Zeroport supports secure access for employees, contractors, and suppliers while maintaining strict IT/OT separation. The solution has been successfully tested in multiple water utilities, improving security without compromising efficiency.