The Cyber Threats Are Closing In:

The report makes it very clear: Denmark’s critical infrastructure is facing a more complex threat landscape than ever before. Cyberattacks are no longer hypothetical – they’re here, and they’re targeting everything from water utilities and hospitals to industrial control systems. The real issue? many OT (Operational Technology) systems were never designed for the hyperconnected world they now operate in. And with remote access becoming essential for operations and support, we’ve opened the back door to potential attackers.

So, What Do We Do?

The report emphasizes the need for resilience and secure remote operations. That’s where BifrostConnect steps in. Our solution is purpose-built for both IT AND OT environments. It isolates access, enforces strict control, and logs what/who/when. That means technicians can respond fast – even in the middle of a crisis – without exposing the entire network.

Compliance Isn’t Getting Any Easier:

With NIS2 and new national laws on emergency preparedness in the energy sector, requirements are only getting stricter. This isn’t just best practice – it’s law. Remote access is part of the equation, and companies need full visibility and control over who accessed what, when, and how. That’s exactly what we deliver.

Conclusion:

Supply security isn’t just an engineering or government issue anymore. It’s a cybersecurity, compliance, and operational integrity issue. If your organization relies on OT in any way – now is the time to take control of your remote access. 

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Introduction:

The new annual report, “Supply Security in Transition” from the Danish Agency for Civil Protection, outlines an evolving threat landscape where complex crises—including rising cyber threats—are putting Denmark’s critical infrastructure and supply chains under pressure. The report highlights how geopolitical tensions, targeted cyberattacks, and climate change are collectively increasing vulnerabilities across essential sectors . This calls for a greater focus on resilience and security in both IT and OT environments (Operational Technology) for authorities and businesses alike.

This analysis explores the report’s key takeaways concerning IT/OT security, remote access, and system resilience, and how BifrostConnect’s remote access solution aligns with these challenges. Additionally, we examine the political and regulatory implications that are driving demand for such solutions.

Cyber Threats to IT/OT Security in Critical Infrastructure

The Report’s Threat Assessment:

The Danish Agency for Civil Protection highlights that society’s essential services face an increasingly complex threat landscape. Cyberattacks are identified as an immediate and escalating risk to critical infrastructure and supply chains . These digital threats could disrupt everything from energy supply and transportation to healthcare and water utilities. The agency’s Deputy Director stresses that society must maintain vital functions despite cyber incidents and geopolitical instability .

In other words, hospitals, schools, water plants, and industrial IT systems must continue to operate even when their networks are under attack. This underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures—not only for administrative IT systems but also for the operational OT systems that control physical infrastructure.

OT System Vulnerabilities:

Historically, OT environments (e.g., SCADA systems and industrial control systems in factories, energy grids, and water utilities) were isolated from traditional IT networks. However, increasing digitization and the need for remote monitoring have blurred these boundaries. Consequently, cyber risks now extend into OT environments that were previously considered secure due to their physical isolation.

A successful cyberattack on OT systems can lead to operational disruptions, physical damage, or the shutdown of critical services—directly impacting supply security. Therefore, protecting OT is now an integral part of ensuring overall societal resilience, which the report strongly advocates.

The Need for Secure Remote Access and System Resilience

Ensuring Resilience and Business Continuity:

The report stresses that businesses and public authorities must build resilience into their systems so they can continue functioning even amid cyberattacks . The agency states that “society must be able to function despite cyberattacks” , highlighting the necessity of proactive security strategies rather than reactive crisis management.

One critical component of resilience is remote access security. During a crisis or cyberattack, on-site access may be difficult or delayed, making secure remote access essential for maintaining operations. However, if remote access is not properly secured, it becomes a major vulnerability, opening the door for cybercriminals to infiltrate OT systems.

Remote Access as a Security Challenge:

Although the report does not explicitly mention remote access, its findings strongly suggest that authorities and organizations must ensure external access to critical systems is both efficient and secure. Many industrial companies have learned the hard way that traditional VPNs or open RDP connections pose major security risks if not properly controlled. A compromised remote access point can serve as a backdoor for hackers, allowing them to penetrate otherwise secure OT networks.

The need for remote access solutions that enable efficient remote support while maintaining high security aligns directly with the report’s call for better cybersecurity measures and disaster preparedness in critical infrastructure .

How BifrostConnect’s Solution Meets These Challenges:

BifrostConnect offers a specialised remote access solution designed to address the security gaps identified in the report. The solution is secure, isolated, and controlled, directly tackling the core challenges highlighted in the report:

• Isolated Network Access: BifrostConnect enables remote access to OT systems without exposing the broader network. This prevents lateral movement, reducing the risk of malware spreading across critical systems.

• Strict Access Control and Monitoring: Multi-factor authentication, time-limited access, and comprehensive logging ensure that only authorized users can gain access. This enhances compliance and aligns with best practices in cybersecurity.

• Supporting Business Continuity: Secure remote support ensures that technicians can respond instantly to system failures, alarms, or security incidents—even during crises. This improves overall system resilience, a key focus of the report .

You could argue, that BifrostConnect transforms the report’s recommendations into concrete, actionable security solutions that safeguard critical infrastructure from cyber threats while ensuring operational efficiency.

Political and Regulatory Implications

Increased Government Focus:

The establishment of the Danish Agency for Civil Protection in 2025—integrating expertise from the Emergency Management Agency and the Center for Cybersecurity —signals a political commitment to strengthening cybersecurity in critical sectors. This increased national focus is expected to lead to stricter security requirements for organizations managing IT/OT systems.

New laws, such as the Danish Emergency Preparedness Act for the Energy Sector (2025), align with the EU’s NIS2 and CER directives and impose significantly tighter security and compliance obligations . These laws include:

• Mandatory access control and cybersecurity risk assessments for OT environments.

• Increased security audits and documentation requirements.

• Incident response and system resilience mandates.

These regulatory pressures will drive demand for proven security solutions, particularly for secure remote access and OT network segmentation. Companies that fail to meet these requirements may face legal and operational consequences, making BifrostConnect’s solution highly relevant for compliance-driven organizations.

Conclusion:

(Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed) The Danish Agency for Civil Protection’s report underscores an urgent need to secure Denmark’s critical infrastructure against escalating cyber threats. A central theme is that organizations must maintain operations even under attack, which requires strong IT/OT security, secure remote access, and regulatory compliance.

BifrostConnect’s isolated and controlled remote access solution addresses these challenges by reducing attack surfaces while enabling efficient remote maintenance and crisis response. With increasing regulatory requirements such as NIS2 and the Danish Emergency Preparedness Act, the need for secure and auditable remote access is now a compliance necessity.

BifrostConnect provides a practical security solution that aligns perfectly with the agency’s recommendations—helping organizations meet regulatory demands while strengthening resilience in critical infrastructure.