Thousands of field assets still not secured

From pumping stations to control cabinets: water boards and water utilities often have dozens or even hundreds of field assets. How can you secure these locations in a reliable, efficient, and sustainable way? In this blog, Richard Mildenberg (Sustainability & Business Development Manager) and Jorden van Driel (Client Team Manager Vitals & Global Services) explain more about smart security for vital infrastructure.

The challenge of dispersed field assets

From healthcare to the electricity grid, from public transport to drinking water supply: these are all examples of vital infrastructure. Facilities that are essential for the functioning of our society. At the same time, this vital infrastructure is becoming increasingly vulnerable. Richard Mildenberg explains: ‘Water boards and water utilities manage hundreds of locations, including treatment plants, pumping stations, switch cabinets, and pumps. These are often remote field assets, which are difficult to access and therefore pose a challenge to secure properly.’

These field assets are not only threatened by physical risks, such as unauthorized access, but also by digital threats. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting these locations because disruption to them has a direct impact on our society.

Innovative security for field assets with identity management

To efficiently manage and secure these dispersed locations, a future-proof solution is essential. Jorden van Driel explains: “With our in-house developed identity management platform YIM (Your Identity Management), we offer a solution that excels in scalability and simplicity. This platform integrates all access and security processes and is ideal for managing field assets.”

Thanks to YIM, it is possible to:

• Centrally manage access rights: Employees, technicians, or contractors receive their access rights directly on their smartphones. This eliminates time-consuming trips to offices to pick up keys or cards.
• Have real-time insights: The platform records who visited which field asset and when. This ensures that access is always fully documented, which is essential for compliance.
• Use battery-free locking systems: These systems use energy from a smartphone to activate a lock. This eliminates the need for maintenance, such as replacing batteries – a huge cost-saving when managing hundreds of assets.”

Efficient maintenance and management of field assets

The benefits of the YIM platform go beyond just security. Richard Mildenberg explains: “With our solution, the management of field assets becomes much more efficient. Since technicians receive access rights directly and physical keys are no longer necessary, logistical movements are drastically reduced. This not only saves time and money but also contributes to our clients’ sustainability goals. Moreover, the cloud-based approach makes local servers unnecessary. No servers mean no maintenance costs and less energy consumption. This aligns perfectly with the sustainability goals of many water boards and water companies.”

Compliance with NIS2 and BIO standards

For organizations within critical infrastructure, such as water companies, compliance with legislation like the Baseline Information Security Government (BIO) and the NIS2 directive is crucial. The YIM platform supports them in this. Jorden van Driel explains: “With YIM, you not only have control over who has access, but everything is also recorded and secured for audits. This makes the platform particularly suitable for organizations with strict compliance requirements.”

Sustainability for field assets

The battery-free locking systems and the reduction of physical trips to field assets not only make this solution secure but also environmentally friendly. Mildenberg: “By reducing maintenance and transport movements, customers save on operational costs and reduce their CO2 emissions. This makes our approach unique in the market.”

Interoperability and reliability

When managing field assets and access systems, interoperability is essential. Mildenberg: “With YIM, we bring all systems together, regardless of the brand of the access control. This makes us fully independent and allows us to adapt to the customer’s needs. Additionally, Nsecure meets the highest information security standards, such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001.”

Future-proof security

The Netherlands has one of the best water supply systems in the world. However, with the increasing threat of cybercrime and stricter regulations, protecting this vital infrastructure is more important than ever. With our solutions – specifically designed for the unique challenges of field assets – Nsecure helps customers work efficiently, securely, and sustainably.