--- title: "Control for Critical Infrastructure (CNI) | Firevault" url: https://fire-vault.com/control-for-critical-infrastructure description: "Secure the UK's Critical National Infrastructure with Control, providing physical network path governance for OT and SCADA environments. Learn why." lang: en-GB --- Network Evolution & Rapid Protection (#NEARP) # National-Grade Security for Essential Services State-sponsored actors, hacktivists, and criminal organisations increasingly target essential services. Traditional cybersecurity cannot fully address these persistent, sophisticated threats. Back to Control: https://fire-vault.com/solutions/control Image: Industrial control environment with operational technology systems (https://fire-vault.com/assets/oss-industry-ot-CUdZsi1F.jpg) The exposure in numbers 01 Sovereign control over critical data paths 100% Sovereign control over critical data paths 02 Network-reachable attack surfaces Zero Network-reachable attack surfaces 03 Governance modules enforcing policy 9 Governance modules enforcing policy 04 NIS2 and CAF compliance evidence Full NIS2 and CAF compliance evidence The Challenge ## Critical infrastructure faces nation-state threats. 01 ### Supply Chain Attacks Nation-state actors exploit supply chain vulnerabilities to reach operational systems. 02 ### IT/OT Convergence Shared network paths between IT and OT create cascading vulnerabilities. 03 ### Legacy Infrastructure Legacy systems lack basic cybersecurity and cannot be easily patched. > Sovereign infrastructure demands sovereign data control. If your most critical data can be reached from the internet, it can be compromised, regardless of how many software layers sit in front of it. The Scenario ### Scenario: Nation-State Attack on Energy Grid A state-sponsored group compromises a regional energy provider through a supply-chain update to SCADA management software. The attackers move laterally for 47 days, mapping grid topology and exfiltrating operational procedures. When they trigger the payload, substations across three counties lose supervisory control simultaneously. Recovery takes 11 days because backup configurations were stored on network-attached storage, also compromised. With Control, SCADA configurations and grid topology data reside in physically disconnected vaults requiring multi-party authorisation. The attack vector, network reachability, simply does not exist. "We assumed our air-gap was real. It was not, it was a firewall rule. When it failed, everything behind it was exposed. We needed physical disconnection, not logical separation." Module deployment · critical infrastructure network ## Where each Control module is deployed across IT, OT, vendors and field sites. Critical infrastructure operators carry a corporate estate, an OT core that runs the mission, a vendor zone that supports the kit and remote field sites that report into it. Control puts a real boundary at every step of that picture. Grounded in NCSC CAF, NIS2, CISA reference architectures and IEC 62443-3-2. L5 Internet / Cloud External External services Cloud APIs Image: FV-Firebreak module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png) Firebreak Image: FV-Validate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png) Validate External traffic terminates in the perimeter. L4 Enterprise IT SOC SIEM Identity Office estate and shared services. Office estate and shared services. Image: FV-Isolate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png) Isolate Image: FV-Relay module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png) Relay Image: FV-Unlink module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/unlink-icon-B8GFAVW1.png) Unlink Vendor paths exist on a schedule and not a minute more. VND Vendor zone DMZ · trust boundary MSP access Vendor jump Update broker Third-party access opens on a schedule only. Image: FV-Validate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png) Validate Image: FV-Lock module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) Lock Image: FV-Execute module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png) Execute Vendor activity into OT is named, checked and approved. L3 OT core OT Historian Engineering Asset mgmt Image: FV-Isolate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png) Isolate Engineering and SCADA on separate fabrics. L2 Supervisory control OT SCADA HMI Image: FV-Execute module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png) Execute Control changes need approval before they move. L1 Basic control Field PLCs DCS RTUs Image: FV-Lock module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) Lock Field assets tie to named engineers. L0 Field assets Field Sensors Actuators OSS Crown jewels Off-network Detail callout · A Offline Secure Storage Baselines, configurations, evidence and the recovery sets you need to restore from a known-good state. Offline by design · secure by default Modules & symbols Image: FV-Firebreak module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png) Firebreak Physical sever Image: FV-Validate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png) Validate Integrity check Image: FV-Isolate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png) Isolate Zone boundary Image: FV-Relay module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png) Relay Time-bound path Image: FV-Unlink module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/unlink-icon-B8GFAVW1.png) Unlink Remove trust Image: FV-Lock module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) Lock Named access Image: FV-Execute module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png) Execute Approved action DMZ boundary Trust transition OSS callout Off-network detail ### Where each module is deployed, and what it does there. One row per module. Placement on the network, then plain-English purpose at that point. 1. Image: FV-Isolate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png) Isolate At every zone boundary on the diagram Every zone sits on its own physical fabric. A compromise on the office or vendor side cannot walk into OT or out to the field. 2. Image: FV-Firebreak module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png) Firebreak On the L5 to L4 link and the vendor link A real hardware off switch on the public and vendor boundaries, with vendor access opened only for the named window of work. 3. Image: FV-Relay module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png) Relay On the vendor link Vendor connections exist for the window of work and not a minute more. 4. Image: FV-Unlink module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/unlink-icon-B8GFAVW1.png) Unlink On the vendor link When a vendor relationship ends, Unlink removes the persistent connection and the inherited trust. 5. Image: FV-Validate module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png) Validate On the L5 to L4 link, and inside the vendor link Requests crossing into trusted estates are checked for origin, integrity and authority. 6. Image: FV-Lock module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png) Lock On the vendor link and the L1 to L0 link Access ties to named individuals with the right authority. Standing access is the exception. 7. Image: FV-Execute module icon (https://fire-vault.com/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png) Execute Inside the vendor link and on the L2 to L1 link Pushing a change holds until the right approval is in place. Featured In Read about Firevault on TechRadar Pro: https://www.techradar.com/pro/uk-startup-put-physical-disconnect-switch-in-its-cloud-storage-offering-to-mitigate-ransomware-attacks-but-will-that-be-enough Read about Firevault on Yahoo Finance: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/firevault-launches-help-businesses-directors-074500961.html Read about Firevault on Channel Insider: https://www.channelinsider.com/security/tools-and-platforms/firevault-security-offline-platform-offering/ Read about Firevault on Security Buyer: https://securitybuyer.com/uk-cybersecurity-startup-launches-firevault/ Read about Firevault on SecurityBrief: https://securitybrief.com.au/story/firevault-unveils-offline-digital-vault-to-combat-rising-cyber-risks Capabilities ## What you get with every deployment 01 ### Sovereign Data Paths All data remains within your chosen jurisdiction in NATO-approved Firevault Bunkers, never transiting public cloud or foreign infrastructure. 02 ### Multi-Party Authorisation Critical operations require sign-off from multiple authorised parties across different roles, preventing single points of compromise. 03 ### NIS2 & CAF Evidence Automated compliance logging maps directly to NIS2 Article 21 and NCSC CAF outcomes, audit-ready evidence generated continuously. 04 ### Cellular Failover Out-of-band management via dedicated cellular connectivity ensures control plane access even when primary networks are compromised. 05 ### Immutable Logging Every access, transfer, and policy decision is recorded in tamper-proof logs stored in physically separate infrastructure, forensic-grade accountability. 06 ### Verified Safe-State Restoration Verified control-plane baselines allow the network to be returned to a known-good operating state after a total compromise. Demo to Live ## Adoption Guide Step 1 #### Threat and Compliance Assessment Map your infrastructure against NIS2 Article 21 and NCSC CAF outcomes to identify gaps in network segmentation, access control, and incident response. Step 2 #### Sovereign Architecture Design Select and configure Control modules for your specific sector, energy, water, transport, or defence, with sovereign data paths and multi-party authorisation models. Step 3 #### Controlled Pilot Deploy in an isolated CNI environment with full multi-party authorisation, immutable logging, and cellular failover, validating governance policies without operational risk. Step 4 #### Operational Go-Live Full deployment across critical infrastructure with verified safe-state restoration, continuous compliance evidence generation, and 24/7 out-of-band management. Step 1 #### Threat and Compliance Assessment Step 2 #### Sovereign Architecture Design Step 3 #### Controlled Pilot Step 4 #### Operational Go-Live Organise a Demo: https://fire-vault.com/contact Relevant Control Blueprints ## Deployment patterns that apply here CP-05 FIRE+VAULT ### Protect Critical Infrastructure Keep critical systems available, controlled and disconnected from unnecessary exposure. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-05 CP-04 FIRE ### Enforce Physical Segmentation Segmentation should not just be logical. It should be physically enforceable. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-04 CP-01 FIRE ### Stop Kill-Chain Ransomware Stop ransomware moving, spreading or reaching the crown jewels. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-01 CP-02 FIRE ### Contain Active Breaches When prevention fails, containment must be physical, immediate and provable. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-02 CP-06 VAULT ### Prove Compliance Through Control Compliance becomes stronger when control can be demonstrated, not just documented. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-06 CP-07 FIRE ### Protect Aviation and Aerospace Networks Block incoming traffic by default. Open the air-lock only for verified, time-bound reach. View blueprint https://fire-vault.com/control-blueprints/cp-07 ## Explore More ### Control for OT Environments Physical network governance for SCADA, ICS and industrial control. Learn more about Control for OT Environments https://fire-vault.com/control-for-ot-environments ### Control for IT Networks Policy-enforced path control across IT infrastructure. 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