Cybersecurity for remote critical systems is ‘as easy as email’
4 March 2025 
Schneider Electric has announced an OT (operational technology) cybersecurity technology that, it says, will allow users to manage access to RTUs (remote terminal units) in harsh environments as easily as managing employees’ email access. Its ScadaPack 470i and 474i RTUs are said to be the first on the market with role-based access control (RBAC), helping to comply with edge cyber regulations.
Cyber-threats to critical infrastructure continue to grow, so controlling access to RTUs in remote and difficult environments is vital to ensuring OT security. But this can be dangerous and time-consuming. Schneider’s newly enhanced RTUs offer a single smart device for all remote control and computer operations. Users can manage access to the RTUs securely using standard IT tools such as Active Directory.
The devices, which combine a rugged RTU platform with the flexibility of Linux, can host edge services, protocols, and applications for efficient OT security for all remote control and computer operations. The ScadaPacks integrate with standard IT and OT security tools, with support for IP firewall, NAT, DNP3 secure authentication and more.
“We can see the growing vulnerability of critical infrastructure, like water and wastewater systems and energy pipelines, to cyberattacks,” says James Redmond, Schneider’s global offer manager for ScadaPack. “That’s why enhancing OT with standard security features from the IT world is imperative. For a negligible cost, enabling RBAC on smart RTUs helps to protect this critical infrastructure, enabling continuous safe and profitable operations.”
