Safeguarding critical infrastructure has never been more urgent as cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated.
“With digital transformation dissolving traditional perimeters, bad actors are exploiting vulnerabilities in industries ranging from healthcare and utilities to manufacturing and government,” according to OPSWAT Chief Product Officer, Yiyi Miao.
OPSWAT, a global cybersecurity company, is driving innovation with a “prevention-first mindset,” aiming to secure the systems that underpin society.
“Our technology stack is unique, particularly in how it focuses on critical infrastructure protection,” Miao said.
“Most of our customers are concentrated in industries that literally guarantee our way of life, such as manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and water management. We’ve been in business for over two decades, but we still approach problems with the agility of a startup.”
Prevention Over Detection
A cornerstone of OPSWAT’s platform is its focus on proactive defense, Miao explained.
“We believe prevention is always greater than detection,” he said. “Our MetaDefender platform sanitises data when it comes in, neutralising hidden attack vectors that might otherwise go unnoticed. A seemingly benign file can contain malicious components, which are often overlooked by inexperienced users, leading to ransomware attacks or other breaches.”
He said the platform is designed to integrate seamlessly across various data channels, providing a robust defense against threats entering or leaving an organisation. This includes data loss prevention capabilities that complement a zero-trust approach to cybersecurity.
Challenges of Implementing Zero Trust in Critical Infrastructure
Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is gaining traction as governments push industries to adopt stronger security frameworks. However, its implementation in critical infrastructure is uniquely challenging, Miao explained.
“Zero Trust requires organisations to stop relying on legacy systems and start treating everything—users, devices, networks—with skepticism,” he said. “For critical infrastructure, this is even harder because the systems are so intertwined. You’re dealing with a mix of old and new parts, complex workflows, and processes that are difficult to change. There’s no room for error because any disruption can have a direct and long-lasting impact on society.”
OPSWAT works closely with clients to identify their most critical, but least protected assets. “You can’t protect what you can’t see,” Miao said.
“We help organisations pinpoint weak spots, whether they involve data transfer processes, device usage, or privilege authentication, and then provide holistic, easy-to-operate solutions that don’t add to the cybersecurity skills shortage.”
Real-World Applications: Securing Critical Infrastructure
OPSWAT has demonstrated its ability to secure critical infrastructure in industries of major importance, including power generation, healthcare, transportation and more. In such environments, traditional attack vectors like email or web traffic are less of a concern; instead, threats often originate through physical access points required for operational technology.
“For traditional power generation and nuclear facilities, we’ve developed strong use cases around physical media protection,” Miao said.
“Our kiosks rigorously scan data brought in by contractors or maintenance workers, ensuring no malware enters or leaves these highly isolated environments. Our solutions address this unique challenge.”
This approach has proven essential for safeguarding operations at facilities like Scotland’s Dounreay Nuclear Facility, where MetaDefender ensures complete file security by sanitising potentially malicious files. Similarly, OPSWAT technology plays a critical role at Hitachi Energy, where MetaDefender Core and K2100 Mobile Kiosks protect the supply chain by scanning and sanitising data at key entry points.
In other sectors, OPSWAT’s innovations extend to combating cyber threats via traditional IT vectors. For example, Luzerner Psychiatrie AG in Switzerland deployed MetaDefender to block email-borne malware, safeguarding sensitive healthcare data and maintaining operational integrity. Likewise, Berlin Airport relies on OPSWAT solutions to secure its operational and IT systems against cyberattacks, providing a robust foundation for daily operations.
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