In the rapidly evolving landscape of industrial security, manufacturers are grappling with an unprecedented surge in connected devices. This digital transformation, often coined as Industry 4.0, demands robust, scalable, and efficient approaches to identity security and device authentication. Recent collaboration between CyberArk, Device Authority, and Microsoft emerges as a compelling response to these challenges, directly addressing the complexities of securing operational technology (OT) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices in modern factories, remote sites, and edge environments.
The initiative brings together three powerhouses in enterprise security and cloud solutions. Each partner leverages its distinct expertise to build a solution architecture that is not only theoretically aligned with the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) reference architecture for IoT security published in May 2024, but also directly translatable to real-world operations faced by manufacturers.
Microsoft’s Azure IoT and Defender for IoT offerings provide the backbone for scalable device management and continuous threat monitoring. CyberArk brings mature privileged access management (PAM) to enforce rigorous security boundaries, shutting down the pathways commonly exploited by attackers. Device Authority, on the other hand, automates device onboarding, identity credentialing, and encryption—functions notoriously prone to human error—enabling organizations to deploy and manage device identities at scale without operational bottlenecks.
The synergy of these technologies is positioned as a unique answer to the demands of Zero Trust security models in manufacturing—a concept that assumes breaches are inevitable, and proactively limits access based on strong identity verification and least privilege.
Digitally transforming manufacturers are expected to not only deploy devices more rapidly but also ensure their ongoing trustworthiness and resilience against emerging threats. The NIST framework elevates expectations for manufacturers, cementing device security as a continuous process rather than a one-time setup. Compliance with NIST guidelines is fast becoming both a regulatory checkbox and a business imperative for supply chain integrity and operational risk management.
Automated incident response, where compromised credentials or anomalous device behavior triggers immediate policy enforcement or device quarantine, becomes possible. This adaptive security approach radically narrows the window of vulnerability—an essential feature as ransomware and supply-chain attacks proliferate in manufacturing.
What this partnership brings is a pragmatic application of Zero Trust, specifically tailored for manufacturers:
Crucially, these access policies are enforced automatically and consistently. No more exceptions for busy shifts, no more sharing of credentials across teams. Every move is logged, every privilege assigned on a need-to-access basis, and periodic reviews are streamlined for compliance.
This not only blocks many attack vectors but also insulates manufacturers from the “insider threat”—malicious or careless insiders whose actions could otherwise bypass weak policy enforcement.
First, implementing the framework makes manufacturers more resilient to the types of attacks increasingly targeting critical infrastructure. Second, it signals to customers, partners, and regulators a commitment to best-practice security. Third, by automating compliance tasks, it reduces the cumulative burden of audits and reporting.
Over time, manufacturers that embed these controls will likely see competitive advantages: smoother onboarding for new devices and partners, easier entry to regulated markets, and fewer business disruptions from security incidents.
Beyond internal efficiencies, the solution may also shape the broader supplier landscape. Enterprises dealing with Tier 2 and Tier 3 vendors will likely insist on demonstrable conformance to the same standards, driving ecosystem-wide improvement.
Cloud-based management and automation further support flexible operational models—just-in-time inventory, remote diagnostics, and predictive maintenance—by ensuring secure communication and trust, regardless of device location.
Piecemeal strategies may introduce unnecessary complexity and gaps, increasing risk even as resources are spent on security tooling. By joining forces, the three companies offer manufacturers an actionable, unified path to industry-leading practices.
Yet, the strengths of this solution are clear:
Collaboration between security vendors, cloud providers, and industry experts leads to richer solutions—ones that anticipate real-world obstacles and prioritize operational needs. As NIST and other standards bodies continue to refine expectations, such alliances will dictate the direction of compliant, risk-aware industrial security for years to come.
Device, identity, and privilege management must be baked into the digital fabric of manufacturing, not layered on after the fact. With competition fierce, and attacker tactics ever more advanced, the organizations that recognize and operationalize this reality will be best positioned for a resilient, secure, and prosperous future.
As threats become more sophisticated and regulatory expectations rise, security cannot be an afterthought. It must evolve as both shield and enabler, tightly woven into the digital thread running through every modern manufacturing enterprise.
Source: www.securityinfowatch.com CyberArk and Device Authority deliver secure device authentication with Microsoft
Collaborative Innovation: Addressing Modern Manufacturing Security
The initiative brings together three powerhouses in enterprise security and cloud solutions. Each partner leverages its distinct expertise to build a solution architecture that is not only theoretically aligned with the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) reference architecture for IoT security published in May 2024, but also directly translatable to real-world operations faced by manufacturers.Microsoft’s Azure IoT and Defender for IoT offerings provide the backbone for scalable device management and continuous threat monitoring. CyberArk brings mature privileged access management (PAM) to enforce rigorous security boundaries, shutting down the pathways commonly exploited by attackers. Device Authority, on the other hand, automates device onboarding, identity credentialing, and encryption—functions notoriously prone to human error—enabling organizations to deploy and manage device identities at scale without operational bottlenecks.
The synergy of these technologies is positioned as a unique answer to the demands of Zero Trust security models in manufacturing—a concept that assumes breaches are inevitable, and proactively limits access based on strong identity verification and least privilege.
The NIST IoT Reference Architecture: A New Standard for Device Security
Introduced in May 2024, the NIST reference architecture for IoT security specifies a structured, layered approach to managing the entire lifecycle of connected devices. It covers secure onboarding when devices are first deployed, continuous monitoring and management during their operational life, and rigorous threat detection and response mechanisms as devices communicate within enterprise networks.Digitally transforming manufacturers are expected to not only deploy devices more rapidly but also ensure their ongoing trustworthiness and resilience against emerging threats. The NIST framework elevates expectations for manufacturers, cementing device security as a continuous process rather than a one-time setup. Compliance with NIST guidelines is fast becoming both a regulatory checkbox and a business imperative for supply chain integrity and operational risk management.
From Architecture to Action: Scaling Security Across the Factory and Edge
The crux of the CyberArk, Device Authority, and Microsoft partnership lies in translating the ideals of the NIST framework into real-world solutions. Most importantly, they address:- Device Density and Diversity: Modern factory floors and edge environments are home to thousands of heterogeneous devices, frequently purchased from different vendors and running on disparate firmwares. Standardizing secure onboarding and lifecycle management is a Herculean feat.
- Network Reliability: Devices at the edge may operate under spotty or air-gapped connectivity, making centralized real-time management impossible in some cases.
- Operational Pressures: Manufacturers balance security compliance with the non-negotiable need for real-time decision making. Downtime—whether due to attacks or complex authentication bottlenecks—can be catastrophic.
- Manual Intervention Risks: Traditional device onboarding or incident response requires skilled humans performing repetitive, error-prone tasks. As device counts swell, the margin for error increases, threatening both security posture and operational continuity.
Cutting Through Complexity: The Importance of Automation
A standout aspect of this alliance is the reduction in manual overhead. In practical terms, manual device registration, key distribution, and periodic credential rotation are fraught with inconsistencies. Automating these workflows not only expedites deployment but also seals off common attack vectors associated with weak or stale credentials.Automated incident response, where compromised credentials or anomalous device behavior triggers immediate policy enforcement or device quarantine, becomes possible. This adaptive security approach radically narrows the window of vulnerability—an essential feature as ransomware and supply-chain attacks proliferate in manufacturing.
Real-world Benefits for Manufacturers
The promise of this joint solution is more than strong marketing. The convergence of cloud, edge, identity, and privileged access technologies yields multiple tangible business outcomes:- Reduced Cyber Risk: The likelihood and impact of a breach is dramatically minimized, thanks to tightly managed device identities, automated credential handling, and continuous privilege oversight.
- Regulatory Confidence: As NIST compliance becomes industry standard and, in some cases, a requirement for doing business with government or critical infrastructure partners, the solution streamlines audit and reporting.
- Operational Resilience: Security controls are embedded in workflows, not bolted on, ensuring that manufacturing lines are not held hostage by either attackers or overly restrictive security protocols.
- Faster Incident Response: Automated detection of and reaction to anomalous device behavior reduces mean time to detect and contain threats, insulating businesses from prolonged outages.
The Edge Security Challenge
Manufacturers increasingly operate equipment, sensors, and microcontrollers well beyond the traditional data center. This “edge” paradigm—where decisions need to be made at remote installations with erratic connectivity—introduces profound new security risks. Devices here are vulnerable due to:- Limited Physical Oversight: Devices might be deployed in locations where IT personnel rarely or never visit, raising the risk of physical tampering or undetected failure.
- High Device Density: Hundreds or thousands of endpoints may operate side by side, raising the stakes for outbreaks of malware or rogue device behavior.
- Rapid Deployment Cycles: As market demands shift, new devices must be brought online quickly, increasing the probability of configuration errors if not automated.
- Mixed Legacy Environments: Many manufacturers run edge sites with a tapestry of old and new devices, not all of which can support modern security protocols.
Zero Trust for IoT: Moving Beyond the Buzzword
The concept of Zero Trust—never trust, always verify—has been a guiding light in enterprise IT for years, but has proven harder to implement outside the datacenter. IoT and OT environments magnify the difficulties, due to resource-constrained devices, proprietary protocols, and network unpredictability.What this partnership brings is a pragmatic application of Zero Trust, specifically tailored for manufacturers:
- Continuous Device Assessment: Each device is authenticated and its health monitored, not just at deployment but throughout its operational life.
- Dynamic Access Controls: Access to sensitive functions or data is only granted once identity is proven, and is continuously re-validated.
- Anomaly Detection: Unusual behavior, whether triggered by a device or a user, prompts immediate response—restricting privileges, rotating credentials, or isolating affected devices.
The Human Element: Policy Enforcement Without Bottlenecks
Many headline-grabbing breaches start with gaps in access oversight—an administrator with excessive privileges or a compromised contractor account. CyberArk’s role in the alliance is critical here: privileged access management ensures that only authorized, authenticated admins can change device settings, access sensitive data, or reconfigure operational workflows.Crucially, these access policies are enforced automatically and consistently. No more exceptions for busy shifts, no more sharing of credentials across teams. Every move is logged, every privilege assigned on a need-to-access basis, and periodic reviews are streamlined for compliance.
This not only blocks many attack vectors but also insulates manufacturers from the “insider threat”—malicious or careless insiders whose actions could otherwise bypass weak policy enforcement.
NIST Compliance as a Catalyst, Not a Burden
For many IT and security professionals, regulatory compliance is often seen as a cost or a drag on operational efficiency. This partnership, however, reframes NIST compliance as a driver for innovation—not just a box-checking exercise.First, implementing the framework makes manufacturers more resilient to the types of attacks increasingly targeting critical infrastructure. Second, it signals to customers, partners, and regulators a commitment to best-practice security. Third, by automating compliance tasks, it reduces the cumulative burden of audits and reporting.
Over time, manufacturers that embed these controls will likely see competitive advantages: smoother onboarding for new devices and partners, easier entry to regulated markets, and fewer business disruptions from security incidents.
Economic and Competitive Implications
Aside from risk reduction, adopting this integrated approach can translate into faster time-to-market and reduced total cost of ownership. By slashing the manpower needed for device onboarding, credential management, and incident response, operational costs fall even as security improves.Beyond internal efficiencies, the solution may also shape the broader supplier landscape. Enterprises dealing with Tier 2 and Tier 3 vendors will likely insist on demonstrable conformance to the same standards, driving ecosystem-wide improvement.
Cloud-based management and automation further support flexible operational models—just-in-time inventory, remote diagnostics, and predictive maintenance—by ensuring secure communication and trust, regardless of device location.
Darron Antill: Edge Security Isn’t Optional
Device Authority’s CEO, Darron Antill, underscores that distributed, edge-heavy manufacturing sites are here to stay, and that security must follow devices wherever they go. High device density and scattered geography multiply risk factors, while business imperatives demand rapid, uninterrupted operations. Edge-focused solutions allow organizations to maintain resilience, keep their data safe, and avoid the vulnerabilities inherent in older, one-size-fits-all approaches.CyberArk’s Perspective: Unified Over Piecemeal
Clarence Hinton, CyberArk’s Chief Strategy Officer, cautions against single-point or fragmented approaches to OT security. True NIST compliance and real risk reduction require an integrated solution—one where device and user identities are managed holistically, privileges enforced consistently, and manual work minimized.Piecemeal strategies may introduce unnecessary complexity and gaps, increasing risk even as resources are spent on security tooling. By joining forces, the three companies offer manufacturers an actionable, unified path to industry-leading practices.
Microsoft’s View: Security Made Holistic
Dayan Rodriquez, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President for Manufacturing & Mobility, reinforces that as manufacturers embrace digital transformation, securing connected devices is non-negotiable. This comprehensive, ecosystem-driven security solution provides protection from the factory floor out to the most remote edge devices, supporting both operational integrity and regulatory alignment.Hidden Challenges and Strategic Strengths
While this joint architecture addresses myriad technical and operational realities, risks remain. Manufacturers with deeply embedded legacy devices may struggle to integrate with advanced identity management protocols without hardware upgrades or middleware translation layers. Resistance to change—be it cultural or process-driven—may slow adoption or lead to incomplete implementations.Yet, the strengths of this solution are clear:
- Future-Proofing: Automating credential management and access simplifies the adoption of future standards and reduces technical debt.
- Ecosystem Leverage: The alliance of major vendors smooths integration friction, offering managed service layers for enterprises that lack deep in-house security expertise.
- Operational Continuity: Security is balanced with uptime—the solution is designed not to impede processes but to complement and protect them.
- Scalability: Cloud-based management ensures that as device fleets grow, security remains manageable and robust.
Looking Ahead: The Evolution of Industrial Security
The manufacturing landscape is only becoming more interconnected and more targeted by sophisticated adversaries. The success of the CyberArk, Device Authority, and Microsoft partnership should serve as a blueprint for other sectors where operational reliability and cyber risk collide.Collaboration between security vendors, cloud providers, and industry experts leads to richer solutions—ones that anticipate real-world obstacles and prioritize operational needs. As NIST and other standards bodies continue to refine expectations, such alliances will dictate the direction of compliant, risk-aware industrial security for years to come.
Device, identity, and privilege management must be baked into the digital fabric of manufacturing, not layered on after the fact. With competition fierce, and attacker tactics ever more advanced, the organizations that recognize and operationalize this reality will be best positioned for a resilient, secure, and prosperous future.
Final Thoughts
The convergence of CyberArk, Device Authority, and Microsoft on a standards-aligned, fully automated IoT security and management platform is a significant marker in the ongoing maturity of OT security. Manufacturers that embrace integrated, automated, and scalable security processes—deeply informed by Zero Trust principles and the latest NIST reference architectures—will not only defend themselves against the full spectrum of digital threats but also lay the groundwork for continued innovation in an always-connected world.As threats become more sophisticated and regulatory expectations rise, security cannot be an afterthought. It must evolve as both shield and enabler, tightly woven into the digital thread running through every modern manufacturing enterprise.
Source: www.securityinfowatch.com CyberArk and Device Authority deliver secure device authentication with Microsoft
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