Offshore Energy Security

Offshore Energy OT Security

Cyber resilience for offshore wind farms, oil and gas platforms, FPSOs, and subsea production systems. Protecting the operational technology that powers the energy transition and global energy supply.

30%
Of global oil production is offshore
64GW
Offshore wind capacity installed globally
12,000+
Offshore installations worldwide
24/7
Remote operations requiring connectivity

Why Offshore Energy OT Security Matters

Offshore energy operations face unique cybersecurity challenges: remote locations with limited physical access, complex IT/OT convergence, safety-critical systems, and increasing regulatory scrutiny under NIS2 and sector-specific frameworks.

Remote Operations

Offshore assets are increasingly controlled from onshore facilities, creating extended attack surfaces. Satellite and microwave links carry critical control traffic, requiring secure architectures that maintain operational integrity even when communications are degraded.

Safety System Dependencies

Emergency shutdown systems, fire and gas detection, and blowout preventers protect lives and the environment. Cyber incidents affecting these systems could have catastrophic consequences, making security-by-design essential rather than optional.

IT/OT Convergence

Modern offshore facilities integrate industrial control systems with enterprise networks and cloud services. This convergence improves efficiency but creates pathways for threats to reach operational systems if boundaries are not properly secured.

Energy Transition Risks

Rapid deployment of offshore wind introduces new technologies and suppliers into the energy ecosystem. Compressed project timelines and unfamiliar OT systems can lead to security gaps that sophisticated actors are learning to exploit.

Supply Chain Complexity

Offshore energy relies on global supply chains for equipment, software, and services. Third-party remote access for maintenance and monitoring creates persistent access vectors that require careful management and oversight.

Regulatory Requirements

NIS2 designates energy operators as essential entities with significant compliance obligations. IEC 62443, IOGP guidelines, and national regulations add further requirements. Non-compliance carries substantial penalties and reputational consequences.

Critical Systems We Protect

Deep understanding of offshore energy OT systems enables us to deliver security improvements that work within operational constraints and regulatory requirements.

Offshore Wind

Wind Turbine SCADA

Supervisory control and data acquisition systems managing turbine operation, pitch control, and power optimisation across wind farm arrays with hundreds of assets.

Offshore Wind

Offshore Substations

High-voltage electrical systems and HVDC converters that aggregate and transmit power to shore. Critical nodes where compromise could affect entire wind farm output.

Offshore Wind

Energy Management Systems

Grid integration, power forecasting, and energy trading platforms that optimise renewable generation and manage market participation obligations.

Oil & Gas

Production Control Systems

DCS and SCADA systems managing wellhead operations, separation processes, and hydrocarbon processing on platforms, FPSOs, and subsea tiebacks.

Oil & Gas

Safety Instrumented Systems

Emergency shutdown, fire and gas detection, and process safety systems rated to SIL requirements. Security controls must not compromise safety integrity levels.

Oil & Gas

Drilling & Well Control

Automated drilling systems, blowout preventers, and well intervention equipment requiring high-integrity protection against both cyber and cyber-physical attacks.

Threat Landscape

Offshore energy infrastructure faces sophisticated threats from multiple actor types, with incidents increasingly crossing from IT networks into operational technology environments.

Critical

Ransomware Targeting OT

Ransomware groups increasingly target energy sector OT systems, recognising that production disruption creates maximum pressure to pay. The Colonial Pipeline attack demonstrated the cascading impact of energy infrastructure compromise.

Critical

Safety System Manipulation

Sophisticated actors have demonstrated capability to target safety instrumented systems. TRITON/TRISIS malware specifically targeted SIS controllers, highlighting the potential for attacks designed to cause physical harm.

High

Supply Chain Compromise

Third-party vendor access, remote support connections, and equipment supply chains provide persistent access paths. SolarWinds demonstrated how supply chain compromise can affect critical infrastructure operators.

High

Remote Access Exploitation

VPN vulnerabilities, exposed RDP services, and compromised remote access tools provide initial access. Remote offshore operations depend on these connections, making secure architecture essential.

Our Services

Comprehensive OT security services designed for the specific challenges of offshore energy operations, delivered by practitioners who understand both the technology and the operational environment.

OT Security Assessment

Comprehensive evaluation of control systems against IEC 62443 and offshore-specific requirements. We assess network architecture, access controls, monitoring capabilities, and resilience. Deliverables include risk-prioritised findings with practical remediation guidance suitable for operational environments.

Network Architecture Review

Analysis of IT/OT segmentation, DMZ design, and secure remote access architectures. We evaluate firewall rules, network flows, and data diode implementations to ensure boundaries provide effective protection without impeding legitimate operations.

Safety System Security

Specialised assessment of safety instrumented systems ensuring cyber resilience without compromising functional safety. We work within ISA/IEC 61511 frameworks and coordinate with process safety teams to maintain safety integrity levels.

Incident Response Planning

Development of OT-specific incident response procedures accounting for offshore constraints including limited bandwidth, delayed physical access, and production continuity requirements. Includes tabletop exercises and response playbooks.

Threat Intelligence

Curated intelligence on threats targeting offshore energy infrastructure. We track threat actor TTPs, emerging vulnerabilities in offshore OT systems, and geopolitical developments affecting energy security. Integration support for existing security operations.

Regulatory Compliance

Guidance on meeting NIS2 obligations, IEC 62443 certification requirements, and IOGP security guidelines. We help produce audit-ready documentation and evidence packages suitable for regulatory discussions and third-party assurance.

Our Approach

We combine deep understanding of offshore energy operations with OT security expertise to deliver practical improvements that work within operational and safety constraints.

1

Understand Operations

We begin by understanding your production processes, safety requirements, and business constraints. Effective security requires deep knowledge of what matters operationally, not just technically.

2

Assess Current State

Structured assessment against IEC 62443 zones and conduits model, identifying gaps in network architecture, access controls, monitoring, and incident response capabilities.

3

Prioritise by Risk

Not all gaps carry equal risk. We help prioritise improvements based on threat likelihood, potential safety and production impact, and implementation complexity within offshore constraints.

4

Implement & Validate

Support implementation during planned maintenance windows and validate effectiveness. We help build sustainable security capabilities that evolve with your operations and the threat landscape.

Protect Your Offshore Energy Operations

Discuss your offshore wind, oil, or gas security requirements with our specialist team.