Cato Networks Expands Platform to Deliver the Industry’s First SASE-native IoT/OT Security Solution  

Today, Cato Networks introduced Cato IoT/OT Security, the industry’s first SASE-native IoT/OT security solution. Cato IoT/OT Security extends SASE-based protection into IoT/OT environments, improving visibility and security while reducing complexity.  

Cato IoT/OT Security is a native feature in the Cato SASE Cloud Platform. It allows enterprises to instantly activate the new solution with a click of a button. No additional hardware or software needs to be installed or configured. Cato IoT/OT Security is the fifth major expansion of the Cato SASE Cloud Platform in 2024, following the releases of Cato XDR and Cato EPP in January, Cato MSASE in June, and Cato DEM in October. 

IoT/OT Security Challenges 

For CISOs, protecting Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments is critical to maintaining a strong security posture and reducing risk. Attacks against IoT/OT systems cause downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage. These devices, vital across sectors like manufacturing, retail, and utilities, support real-time control of operations essential for continuity, efficiency, and safety. As IoT/OT adoption grows, so does the attack surface, making these systems prime targets. 

With IoT/OT devices now an integral part of enterprise networks, they present unique vulnerabilities that traditional IT security teams struggle to address effectively.  A key challenge is that these devices often operate on outdated hardware and software with limited native security features. This makes them prime targets for cyberattacks, risking downtime, safety incidents, financial losses, and even reputational damage​​. These challenges are a function of:  

1. Limited Visibility: IoT/OT environments often lack comprehensive visibility, hindering security teams’ ability to understand device characteristics and behaviors, making threat assessment and prevention difficult. 

2. Complexity: Using multiple point products for IoT/OT security creates an operational burden, resulting in fragmented management and integration challenges, that create security gaps​​. 

3. Increased Attack Surface: Each additional IoT/OT device expands the attack surface, adding new entry points for potential attackers and increasing the network’s exposure to threats. 

Cato IoT/OT Security: Simplify Protecting IoT/OT Environments 

Gain robust IoT/OT security that’s built right in without the hassle of extra deployments or complex integrations. Cato’s approach stands out by extending the Cato SASE Cloud Platform to deliver IoT/OT security. From device discovery to threat prevention, Cato IoT/OT Security ensures operational continuity and security that enables you to: 

• Achieve IoT/OT visibility for better security: Eliminating IoT/OT blind spots enables a comprehensive IT security strategy.​ Cato IoT/OT Security, natively built into the Cato SASE Cloud Platform, delivers instant visibility across IT, IoT, and OT environments without complex integration. AI/ML engines fingerprint devices on the network, mapping their type, manufacturer, and version.   

• Enforce IoT/OT security policies: IoT/OT security requires more than visibility; it requires policy enforcement. Cato IoT/OT Security empowers IT teams with precise access control over internal and external IoT/OT devices with granular policies.  Rules can be set based on specific device characteristics or grouped by type, manufacturer, or model to increase efficiency.  

• Secure IoT/OT devices from advanced threats: Cato IoT/OT Security leverages the full power of the Cato SASE Cloud Platform, ensuring comprehensive, consistent protection for IoT/OT devices. Cato’s advanced threat prevention capabilities leverage powerful features like Cato DNS Security, Cato IPS, and Cato NGAM to safeguard IoT/OT environments from known and zero-day threats. 

The Business Impact of Cato IoT/OT Security 

With Cato IoT/OT Security, enterprises can secure IoT/OT environments from emerging threats and reduce business risk. By leveraging a unified SASE platform, businesses can: 

• Streamline Security Across IT and IoT/OT Environments: Converging IoT/OT security within the Cato SASE Cloud Platform enhances enterprise security and risk management. Organizations can combine IoT/OT protection with broader enterprise network security goals​​ by unifying the security architecture. 

• Drive Efficiency: Extending the Cato SASE Cloud Platform’s threat prevention to IoT/OT security improves efficiency with real-time protection that enhances visibility and eliminates blind spots. This unified approach reduces risk across the enterprise.      

• Simplify Security Deployment and Management: Cato IoT/OT Security extends SASE-based protection to IoT/OT environments, encompassing additional but essential security capabilities into a single platform. This removes the need for multiple point products and costly integrations, simplifying management. 

Real-World Use Cases for Cato IoT/OT Security 

Enterprises need IoT/OT security to protect the expanding network of connected devices—such as sensors, access controls, and industrial equipment—critical for modern operations but susceptible to cyber threats. Without proper security, these devices can create vulnerabilities, increasing risks of data breaches, operational disruptions, and safety issues. Cato IoT/OT Security allows enterprises to monitor, manage, and secure all connected devices, reducing blind spots and ensuring consistent protection across IT and operational environments. This approach minimizes risks and supports regulatory compliance, enabling organizations to safely embrace IoT/OT innovations. With a SASE-based approach, enterprises achieve seamless, scalable protection that adapts as their needs grow. 

One Platform to Eliminate Complexity 

Cato IoT/OT Security, built natively into the Cato SASE Cloud Platform, unifies IoT/OT protection with an enterprise’s overall security strategy, enhancing visibility and simplifying management. This convergence streamlines policy enforcement and threat prevention, delivering real-time insights and control over IoT/OT environments. With Cato, security is embedded in the network infrastructure, supporting operational continuity, minimizing risk, and enabling scalable, secure growth in the digital era. 

Availability 

Cato IoT/OT Security is generally available for customers globally.  

Resources 

• For more information about Cato IoT/OT Security, visit the product page.

• Read the press release.