What is Multidimensional Asset Visibility?

Mike Guigli

Jul 11, 2023

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) has changed the way security teams need to think about asset visibility. Knowing what devices are on the network and basic device identification information is just part of the story that traditional asset management or discovery tools are capable of supporting. This one dimensional approach requires security teams to manage and coordinate between multiple systems to effectively prioritize their risk and achieve comprehensive security; a time-consuming and error-prone responsibility. However, with a platform like Perygee security teams can create the right connections across network, device, and operations metadata to unlock multidimensional asset visibility.

Understanding multidimensional visibility

Multidimensional visibility refers to the capability of organizations to gain real-time insights into their entire inventory of connected devices across different dimensions. These dimensions can include device types, locations, firmware versions, software configurations, connectivity status, and more. By comprehensively visualizing and monitoring these assets, organizations can effectively prioritize and address security challenges, such as vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, unauthorized access, and potential attack vectors.

Improving security through multidimensional asset visibility

Identifying vulnerabilities
IoT and OT devices often have diverse software and firmware configurations, making them susceptible to vulnerabilities. Multidimensional asset visibility allows organizations to identify and track devices with outdated software, unpatched vulnerabilities, or misconfigurations. By promptly addressing these issues, organizations can reduce the risk of exploitation and strengthen the overall security posture of their device networks.

Rapid threat detection
The interconnected nature of IoT and OT ecosystems provides attackers with potential entry points and attack vectors. Multidimensional visibility enables organizations to monitor device interactions, network traffic patterns, and behavior in real-time. By analyzing this data, security teams can quickly identify anomalous activities, such as unauthorized access attempts, suspicious traffic patterns, or deviations from normal behavior. Timely detection of threats enables organizations to respond swiftly and mitigate potential security breaches or operational disruptions.

Effective incident response
In the event of a security incident or breach, multidimensional asset visibility plays a vital role in incident response. By having comprehensive visibility into the interconnected devices, organizations can accurately assess the scope of the incident, isolate affected devices, and take appropriate remedial actions. This minimizes the impact of the incident and facilitates a faster recovery process.

Patch and vulnerability management
Keeping IoT and OT devices up-to-date with the latest patches and firmware updates is crucial for maintaining security. Multidimensional asset visibility allows organizations to identify devices running outdated software or firmware versions that may contain known vulnerabilities. By promptly applying patches and updates, organizations can mitigate the risk of exploitation and ensure that devices are protected against known security flaws.

Access control and authorization
IoT and OT devices often require fine-grained access control to ensure that only authorized individuals or systems can interact with them. Multidimensional visibility enables organizations to monitor and manage user access and permissions across devices. It helps ensure that only authorized individuals or systems have the necessary privileges, reducing the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, or malicious activities.

Compliance and regulatory requirements
Many industries, such as healthcare, finance, and energy, are subject to strict compliance regulations. Multidimensional asset visibility provides organizations with the necessary visibility and documentation to meet regulatory requirements. It enables organizations to track and document device configurations, access controls, and security measures, facilitating audits, reporting, and proving compliance with industry-specific security standards.

Embrace multidimensional visibility

If you’re ready to take your IoT and OT asset visibility to the next level, get in touch with us at hello@perygee.com or check out our use case page for multidimensional visibility for additional information.