OT/IT identity controls that protect production operations.
Identity governance and access management for discrete and process manufacturers. OT/IT identity separation, privileged access controls for ICS environments, and vendor access management that prevents the identity-based lateral movement that turns corporate breaches into production shutdowns.
Manufacturing identity has two distinct and rarely connected environments: corporate IT identity managed by Active Directory and cloud IAM platforms, and OT identity managed informally through shared accounts, local credentials, and vendor technician access that is granted and forgotten. The path from a phishing email to a ransomware event that stops production almost always runs through an identity gap between these two worlds.
Yearling Solutions brings IAM practitioners who understand both environments. We design identity architectures that bring visibility and control to OT access without disrupting operations, implement PAM solutions that work in environments where patching is measured in years rather than weeks, and help manufacturing security teams address the vendor access problem that creates the most consistent exposure.
Standards & Industry Context
The standards that shape identity programs in manufacturing environments.
IEC 62443 (Identity & Access)
User and application account management, authentication, and authorization requirements for industrial automation and control system security.
NIST SP 800-82 (OT Access Controls)
Access control guidance for industrial control systems including account management, identification, and authentication in OT environments.
NIST CSF (Identity Management)
Identity function including asset management, access management, and workforce identity lifecycle aligned to cybersecurity framework adoption.
CMMC 2.0 (Defense Manufacturing)
Identification and authentication controls for defense manufacturers handling CUI including MFA, account management, and privileged access.
ISO 27001
Access control management system requirements applicable to manufacturing IT environments and integrated management systems.
CISA ICS Security Guidance
CISA guidance on remote access security, vendor access management, and account management for industrial control system environments.
What We're Seeing
The identity challenges driving conversations with manufacturing security leaders today.
Shared OT credentials that no one owns
Plant floor systems routinely run on shared local accounts used by operators, technicians, and vendors. When an incident occurs, there is no audit trail. When a technician leaves, credentials live on. Shared accounts in OT are the identity equivalent of unlocked doors.
Vendor remote access to ICS without controls
Equipment vendors and automation contractors require remote access to PLCs, HMIs, and SCADA systems for maintenance and troubleshooting. Access granted via VPN or remote desktop tools without MFA, session recording, or time limits creates the most reliable path to production disruption.
No separation between IT and OT administrative access
IT administrators who also have credentials in OT environments create lateral movement risk that makes ransomware recovery dramatically harder. Separate administrative identities for IT and OT environments is a foundational control most manufacturers have not implemented.
Contractor access that outlasts the contract
Manufacturing organizations with frequent contractor engagement routinely find active credentials for former contractors in both IT and OT systems. In OT environments, these credentials persist in local device configurations that are never audited.
How We Help
IAM services designed for the OT/IT access challenges and operational requirements of manufacturing organizations.
OT Identity Management
- OT account inventory and shared credential elimination program
- Separate IT/OT administrative identity architecture design
- OT user provisioning and lifecycle management integrated with HR processes
- IEC 62443-aligned authentication requirements for industrial control systems
Vendor & Contractor Access Management
- Secure remote access platform for OT vendor and contractor access
- Just-in-time vendor access with time-limited, scoped credentials
- Session recording and monitoring for OT remote access sessions
- Contractor lifecycle management with automated access deprovisioning
Privileged Access Management for OT/IT
- PAM implementation for plant floor, SCADA, and ICS administrative access
- Privileged access vaulting for OT local accounts and shared device credentials
- MFA for privileged OT access that works in environments with connectivity constraints
- Just-in-time elevated access for IT administrators accessing OT systems
IT Identity Governance
- Enterprise IGA for manufacturing corporate workforce and contractor population
- Role-based access for manufacturing ERP, MES, and PLM systems
- Access certification campaigns aligned to manufacturing security review cycles
- SSO and MFA deployment for corporate manufacturing applications
Perfect For
Manufacturers addressing OT/IT identity gaps, vendor access risk, and ICS privileged access challenges.
Discrete manufacturers eliminating shared OT credentials and implementing individual accountability on plant floor systems
Process manufacturers deploying secure remote access for automation vendor support that replaces uncontrolled VPN access
Defense manufacturers building CMMC-compliant identity programs for CUI environments and production systems
Manufacturers recovering from ransomware events and rebuilding with separate IT and OT administrative identities
Contract manufacturers with enterprise customer security assessments requiring documented OT access controls
Multi-site manufacturing organizations standardizing identity governance across plants with inconsistent IAM practices
Proof in Manufacturing
Real engagements with measurable outcomes.
Heavy equipment dealer advances operational resilience through cyber assessment
Identity and access review as part of a distributed-operations resilience assessment. The same holistic access control approach we apply to manufacturing environments with both IT and OT systems.
Read case studyCompliance CertificationDefense contractor achieves CMMC 2.0 Level 2 certification in 6 months
Identity and access controls with evidence automation for a defense contractor. The same CMMC-aligned IAM approach we apply to defense manufacturing environments.
Read case studyRegulated IndustryRegional bank reduces compliance documentation time by 50% with YearlingIQ
Evidence automation across overlapping regulatory frameworks. The same documentation discipline we apply to IEC 62443 and CMMC identity control evidence for manufacturing customers.
Read case studyComplete the Picture
Manufacturing Cybersecurity Advisory
Pair identity services with OT/ICS security advisory and network segmentation from the same practitioner team.
Ready to close your OT identity gaps?
Talk with IAM practitioners who understand plant floor environments, ICS access challenges, and the vendor access risks that most manufacturing identity programs miss.