Leading Provider of Water Management Sets New Standard for Remote OT Support
Luságua X BifrostConnect - March, 2025
This case study has been created in collaboration between Luságua & BifrostConnect.
Secure, Efficient Remote Support for Water Infrastructure
Luságua, a subsidiary of Aquapor, is a leading provider of water management and infrastructure solutions in Portugal. Serving 58 municipalities and nearly half a million people, Luságua is committed to operational efficiency and sustainability.
To maintain its high standards, Luságua continuously adopts innovative technologies—including remote support solutions that improve efficiency while ensuring security and compliance.
This case study shows how Luságua in Portugal adopted BifrostConnect to enable instant, controlled, and cybersecure remote access to their SCADA/OT systems. The result: faster troubleshooting, reduced costs, and full network control.
Secure, Efficient Remote Support for Water Infrastructure
Luságua, a subsidiary of Aquapor, is a leading provider of water management and infrastructure solutions in Portugal. Serving 58 municipalities and nearly half a million people, Luságua is committed to operational efficiency and sustainability.
To maintain its high standards, Luságua continuously adopts innovative technologies—including remote support solutions that improve efficiency while ensuring security and compliance.
This case study shows how Luságua in Portugal adopted BifrostConnect to enable instant, controlled, and cybersecure remote access to their SCADA/OT systems. The result: faster troubleshooting, reduced costs, and full network control.
❝BifrostConnect enables us to provide seamless expert support to our field teams, ensuring real-time troubleshooting without unnecessary delays.
Jorge Figueiredo, Head of Automation, SCADA, and Remote Management, Luságua
Why Traditional Remote Access Fails Critical Infrastructure
With plug-and-play simplicity, a zero-trust approach, and no permanent network exposure, following the NIST Zero Trust model, BifrostConnect gives field technicians and external experts temporary, auditable access to OT systems like PLCs and SCADA – without compromising security or compliance with the EU’s NIS2 directive.
In this case study, you’ll see how Luságua, a leader in Portugal’s water infrastructure sector, overcame these challenges and achieved faster, safer, and more efficient remote support —all while maintaining full control over their infrastructure.
When you’re managing critical infrastructure—whether it’s water systems, energy grids, or manufacturing operations—downtime isn’t just inconvenient, it’s dangerous. But ironically, the more essential these systems are, the harder they are to support remotely.
That’s because legacy remote access tools were never built for the complex, sensitive, and security-critical environments where Operational Technology (OT) lives. VPNs are slow. Permanent connections are risky. And IT departments are (rightfully) cautious when the stakes include ransomware, NIS2 non-compliance, or national utilities grinding to a halt.
Why Traditional Remote Access Fails Critical Infrastructure
With plug-and-play simplicity, a zero-trust approach, and no permanent network exposure, following the NIST Zero Trust model, BifrostConnect gives field technicians and external experts temporary, auditable access to OT systems like PLCs and SCADA – without compromising security or compliance with the EU’s NIS2 directive.
In this case study, you’ll see how Luságua, a leader in Portugal’s water infrastructure sector, overcame these challenges and achieved faster, safer, and more efficient remote support —all while maintaining full control over their infrastructure.
When you’re managing critical infrastructure—whether it’s water systems, energy grids, or manufacturing operations—downtime isn’t just inconvenient, it’s dangerous. But ironically, the more essential these systems are, the harder they are to support remotely.
That’s because legacy remote access tools were never built for the complex, sensitive, and security-critical environments where Operational Technology (OT) lives. VPNs are slow. Permanent connections are risky. And IT departments are (rightfully) cautious when the stakes include ransomware, NIS2 non-compliance, or national utilities grinding to a halt.
Luságua’s field engineers frequently encountered issues troubleshooting PLCs, SCADA, and other key infrastructure components.
Junior technicians required real-time support from senior specialists, but traditional remote access solutions were:
- Slow – VPN setups and approvals delayed issue resolution.
- Insecure – Permanent remote access created cybersecurity risks.
- Inefficient – Experts had to travel onsite, increasing operational costs.
Recognizing the need for a faster, more secure, and more scalable remote support solution, Luságua adopted BifrostConnect. Unlike traditional remote access systems, which rely on permanent network access or IT-managed VPNs, BifrostConnect provides a plug-and-play solution that enables on-demand, ad-hoc access to critical OT systems without exposing the network.
Luságua’s field engineers frequently encountered issues troubleshooting PLCs, SCADA, and other key infrastructure components.
Junior technicians required real-time support from senior specialists, but traditional remote access solutions were:
- Slow – VPN setups and approvals delayed issue resolution.
- Insecure – Permanent remote access created cybersecurity risks.
- Inefficient – Experts had to travel onsite, increasing operational costs.
Recognizing the need for a faster, more secure, and more scalable remote support solution, Luságua adopted BifrostConnect. Unlike traditional remote access systems, which rely on permanent network access or IT-managed VPNs, BifrostConnect provides a plug-and-play solution that enables on-demand, ad-hoc access to critical OT systems without exposing the network.
The Results was Faster Resolution, Lower Costs and Enhanced Security
By integrating BifrostConnect, Luságua achieved significant improvements in efficiency and security:
- Instant Remote Expert Support – Junior engineers now connect with senior specialists in real-time, drastically reducing resolution times.
- Direct, Secure Access to Critical Systems – No IT bottlenecks, ensuring seamless and secure troubleshooting of PLCs, SCADA, and OT infrastructure.
- Operational Cost Savings – Reduced travel and on-site troubleshooting, freeing up valuable engineering resources and cutting unnecessary expenses.
