Ontinue, a leading provider of AI-powered managed extended detection and response (MXDR) services and winner of the 2023 Microsoft Security Services Innovator of the Year award, has officially announced the expansion of its managed services to include IoT/OT environments.
In case you weren’t aware, Ontinue ION for IoT Security happens to be an add-on service for the Ontinue ION MXDR solution, which is basically designed to deliver continuous protection at the disposal of customers’ IoT and OT environments.
To understand the significance of such a development, though, we must take into account a recently-concluded research, where it was revealed that nearly one-third of organizations experienced six or more intrusions during 2024, marking sharp rise from 11% the previous year.
Ontinue’s new ION for IoT Security, in response, arrives on the scene bearing an ability to help CISOs safeguard critical operational environments with the same robust protections relied upon by IT environments.
More on that would reveal how ION for IoT Security leverages Microsoft Defender for IoT, inventory IoT, and OT environments, as well as collect telemetry and generate security alerts.
Here, ION MXDR and ION for IoT Security services, when packaged together, are able to offer Ontinue customers centralized managed security operations for their IT and OT environments, all delivered via the combination of the ION SecOps platform, Ontinue’s 24/7 Cyber Defense Center, and designated cybersecurity advisors.
Not just that, ION for IoT Security customers can also expect to realize unprecedented visibility into their OT and IoT environments.
“Securing our OT environments is critical to ensuring uninterrupted production and delivering life-changing products to those who depend on them,” said Henning Christiansen, CISO at Ottobock. “Ontinue’s ION for IoT Security service gives us the visibility and protection we need to safeguard our operations against evolving threats, so we can focus on our mission of helping people live more active, fulfilling lives.”
Talk about the benefits of Ontinue for IoT Security on a slightly deeper level, we begin from its promise to accelerate IoT/OT security maturity. You see, organizations with limited or no visibility and control over their IoT and OT assets can get immediate protection which, on its part, includes 24/7 monitoring, investigation, and containment.
Hence, no matter whether responding to a board mandate or attempting to comply with IoT/OT audits, CISOs and their teams can quickly ramp their IoT and OT environment security maturity.
The next benefit in line stems from real-time assessment facility. The stated facility treads up a long distance to maintain an up-to-date inventory of network-connected devices using Microsoft Defender for IoT’s passive network sensor. Furthermore, it can identify unmanaged devices and access detailed information like manufacturer, serial number, and firmware.
Then, there is the prospect associated with 24/7 threat detection and incident management. Capable of investigating every incident within the broader context of your environment, the technology deploys tailored rules of engagement, escalation processes, and Microsoft Teams-based collaboration to facilitate automated investigation and response.
This it markedly does while ensuring that incidents are escalated and communicated to the right people in your team for approvals, feedback, and guidance without inconvenience.
Hold on, we still have a few bits left to unpack, considering we haven’t yet touched upon the on-demand availability of top-notch security expertise, something which can let users access real-time response recommendations and IoT/OT expertise from Ontinue’s Cyber Defenders.
Rounding up highlights would be faster time-to-market value for Microsoft IoT Defender. We get to say so because ION for IoT Security maximizes the ROI of Microsoft Defender from day one. Even in the case of customers who need help deploying Defender for IoT, Ontinue provides expert guidance on deploying and configuring IoT/OT sensors to get your organization up and running quickly and easily.
“The rapid adoption of IoT and OT devices – and their integration into traditional IT environments – is creating unprecedented challenges for organizations seeking to protect their critical operations,” said Geoff Haydon, CEO of Ontinue. “By extending our ION MXDR service to include OT security, we provide CISOs with the tools and expertise to address evolving threats with confidence, enabling resilience across both IT and OT environments.”