Remote Connections – Convenience or Compromise?

Remote access is a vital tool for supporting industrial systems. It enables rapid fault diagnosis, timely updates, and support without the cost or delay of on-site attendance. But while remote connections bring efficiency, they also introduce significant risk — particularly when they are not well-managed or properly secured.

Many businesses now use managed remote access platforms, which is a step in the right direction. But even these are not always enough. Security depends not just on the tool, but on how it is configured, controlled, and maintained. Often, the greater risk comes from third-party connections — particularly those provided by OEMs who supply machinery on production lines.

We routinely encounter remote access points into production systems that are undocumented, unmanaged, and sometimes unknown to site IT or operational teams. These connections may use cellular routers or embedded VPN clients, giving OEMs access to machines without any central oversight. They are frequently marked as “secure” due to their use of VPN technology, but true security extends beyond encryption

Critical questions often go unanswered: Do you know exactly who can access your systems? Is access limited to when it’s needed, or is it always available? Is there a unique account per engineer, or does everyone use the same login? Are credentials ever changed? Who else knows the passwords — perhaps ex-employees or contractors?

The problem is compounded as more machines are networked together. Without a properly segmented manufacturing network and strict access controls, a single remote session intended for one machine can unintentionally give access to an entire line or system. There have been cases where OEM engineers, attempting to upload new software, connected to the wrong machine entirely — with serious consequences.

At Fairfields, we help clients design secure, structured manufacturing networks that support remote access without compromising control. We ensure that third-party connections are visible, auditable, and restricted, with role-based access, time-limited sessions, and proper user management — because convenience should never come at the cost of security.