OT Secure Remote Access Software RFP Template

Request for Proposal: OT Secure Remote Access Software Solution

Table of Contents

1. Introduction and Background
2. Project Objectives
3. Scope of Work
4. Technical Requirements
5. Functional Requirements
6. Vendor Qualifications
7. Evaluation Criteria
8. Submission Guidelines
9. Timeline

1. Introduction and Background

This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks a comprehensive Operational Technology (OT) secure remote access software solution enabling authorized users to safely connect to and manage industrial control systems (ICS) and OT devices remotely.

Business Requirements

• Engineering remote access capabilities
• Secure system maintenance
• Emergency response support
• Security monitoring
• Plant operations oversight
• Multi-site infrastructure management
• Compliance and audit support

Target Environment Coverage

• Industrial control systems
• SCADA systems
• PLCs
• Manufacturing equipment
• Energy management systems
• Utility infrastructure
• Critical operational assets

2. Project Objectives

1. Implement secure OT remote access with robust authentication
2. Establish comprehensive security controls
3. Enable efficient remote maintenance
4. Implement continuous monitoring
5. Ensure regulatory compliance
6. Reduce operational costs
7. Support emergency access protocols

3. Scope of Work

Implementation Services

1. Software deployment
2. Security configuration
3. Infrastructure integration
4. User and role setup
5. Monitoring implementation
6. Security control integration

Required Deliverables

1. Operational remote access solution
2. Technical documentation
3. Security guides
4. Training materials
5. Support procedures
6. Incident response protocols

4. Technical Requirements

4.1 Network Mapping and Visibility

4.1.1 Discovery and Documentation

• Network Discovery
  • Automated asset discovery capabilities
  • Real-time network topology mapping
  • Device identification and classification
  • Service and application detection
  • Port and protocol identification
  • Dependency mapping
  • Network path analysis
  • Bandwidth utilization tracking
  • Performance bottleneck detection
  • Configuration verification
• Documentation Management
  • Automated network diagram generation
  • Asset inventory maintenance
  • Configuration documentation
  • Change tracking and versioning
  • Relationship documentation
  • Access path documentation
  • Security zone mapping
  • Compliance documentation
  • Risk assessment documentation
  • Recovery procedure documentation

4.1.2 Monitoring and Analysis

• Performance Monitoring
  • Real-time network monitoring
  • Traffic analysis and reporting
  • Bandwidth utilization tracking
  • Latency measurement
  • Packet loss detection
  • Quality of service monitoring
  • Application performance tracking
  • Resource utilization monitoring
  • Capacity planning tools
  • Trend analysis capabilities
• Security Analysis
  • Traffic pattern analysis
  • Anomaly detection
  • Security zone verification
  • Access control validation
  • Policy compliance checking
  • Vulnerability assessment
  • Risk scoring
  • Threat detection
  • Incident investigation support
  • Forensic analysis capabilities

4.2 Endpoint Protection and Security

4.2.1 Malware Protection

• Detection Capabilities
  • Real-time scanning mechanisms
  • File reputation analysis
  • Behavioral monitoring
  • Machine learning detection
  • Signature-based detection
  • Heuristic analysis
  • Sandboxing capabilities
  • Zero-day threat protection
  • Rootkit detection
  • Fileless malware detection
• Response Features
  • Automated threat blocking
  • Quarantine functionality
  • Malware removal tools
  • System recovery capabilities
  • Incident notification system
  • Threat intelligence integration
  • Attack chain analysis
  • Impact assessment
  • Remediation guidance
  • Prevention recommendations

4.2.2 System Security

• Access Control
  • Application control lists
  • Process privilege management
  • Memory protection
  • File system security
  • Registry protection
  • Network access control
  • Device control
  • USB security
  • Peripheral management
  • Remote access security
• System Hardening
  • Security baseline enforcement
  • Configuration management
  • Patch management
  • Service hardening
  • Port security
  • Protocol restrictions
  • Account security
  • Password policy enforcement
  • Encryption management
  • Backup protection

4.3 Core Security Infrastructure

4.3.1 Network Security

• Segmentation Implementation
  • Network zone definition
  • Traffic flow control
  • Access control lists
  • Protocol filtering
  • VLAN management
  • DMZ configuration
  • Gateway security
  • Routing security
  • NAT management
  • QoS implementation
• Security Controls
  • Intrusion detection
  • Threat prevention
  • Firewall management
  • VPN infrastructure
  • Encryption protocols
  • Certificate management
  • Key management
  • Authentication systems
  • Authorization controls
  • Audit logging

5. Functional Requirements

5.1 Network Control and Security

Tip: Network control and security requirements focus on establishing robust segmentation and access controls to protect OT assets. Proper implementation of these controls is crucial for maintaining the security posture of industrial systems while enabling necessary remote access capabilities.

5.2 Device Control and Access Management

Tip: Device control and access management ensures that only authorized devices and users can connect to OT systems, with granular controls over hardware connections and data transfers. This forms the foundation of secure remote access operations.

5.3 Security Operations and Intelligence

Tip: Security operations and intelligence capabilities provide real-time visibility into system behavior and potential threats, enabling rapid detection and response to security incidents while maintaining operational continuity.

5.4 Compliance and Reporting

Tip: Compliance and reporting features ensure that remote access activities meet regulatory requirements and internal policies, while providing comprehensive audit trails and documentation for security governance.

5.5 Performance and Integration

Tip: Performance and integration capabilities ensure that the remote access solution operates efficiently while seamlessly connecting with existing security and operational systems to provide a unified security architecture.

6. Vendor Qualifications

Required qualifications:

1. Five years minimum OT security experience
2. Industrial implementation history
3. Security certifications
4. 24/7 support capability
5. Financial stability
6. Regular product updates
7. Professional services availability

7. Evaluation Criteria

Scoring weights:

1. Technical solution (30%)
2. Security capabilities (25%)
3. Implementation approach (15%)
4. Vendor experience (15%)
5. Total cost (15%)

8. Submission Guidelines

Required elements:

1. Solution architecture
2. Security specifications
3. Implementation plan
4. Support details
5. Pricing structure
6. Client references
7. Team qualifications
8. Product roadmap
9. Security certifications
10. Service level agreements

9. Timeline

• RFP Release Date: [Date]
• Questions Deadline: [Date]
• Proposal Due Date: [Date]
• Vendor Presentations: [Date Range]
• Final Selection: [Date]
• Project Kickoff: [Date]

10. Contact Information

Please submit proposals and questions to: [Contact Name] [Email Address] [Phone Number]