Zero Trust Remote Access Platform

Description:

A secure, on-premises operations platform that revolutionizes field site access while maintaining strict air-gapped requirements. By consolidating multiple access points into a unified interface and implementing robust security measures, this platform enables secure remote access to industrial control systems while reducing operational costs and improving efficiency across 75+ individual sites.

Domain:

Operations Technology / Infrastructure Security / DevOps

Technologies/Tools:

TypeScript, NestJS, NextJS, MongoDB, Prisma ORM, Docker, Harbor Registry, NGINX, Azure DevOps, Ansible

Introduction

The Zero-Trust Remote Access Platform was developed to solve critical challenges in the oil and gas industry, where secure access to operational technology systems is paramount. The platform enables field operators to securely access industrial control systems remotely while maintaining strict air-gapped requirements and security protocols. A key achievement was the successful integration of 75+ individual sites into a unified platform through robust CI/CD practices and systematic deployment strategies.

Pipeline Implementation

Built a comprehensive CI/CD pipeline using Azure Pipelines and Releases to manage container builds, analyze vulnerabilities, and handle secure deployments in air-gapped environments. The system enabled automated rollbacks, versioning, and patch management while maintaining strict security protocols.

Technical Implementation:

  • Container Build Pipeline: Implemented vulnerability scanning, custom variable injection, and certificate-based authentication for secure registry pushes.
  • Deployment Strategy: Orchestrated staged deployments with automated rollback capabilities and zero-downtime updates.
  • Developer Experience: Created DevContainer configurations reducing environment setup time from days to minutes.
  • Security Architecture: Built multi-layer security with gateway server controlling frontend/backend access in air-gapped environments.
  • Infrastructure Stack: Integrated MongoDB with Prisma ORM for secure data management and NGINX for service routing.

Key Achievements:

  • Achieved 90% field operator adoption with 4-week average daily engagement
  • Reduced monthly data costs by $40,000 through optimized streaming architecture
  • Consolidated 80+ separate field portals into unified platform
  • Reduced production server footprint from 24 to 3 through efficient architecture
  • Successfully integrated 75+ individual sites into a cohesive system

Conclusion

The Zero-Trust Remote Access Platform represents a significant advancement in secure operational technology access, successfully bridging the gap between security requirements and operational efficiency. Through innovative architecture and robust CI/CD practices, we delivered a solution that not only met strict security standards but also achieved high user adoption and significant cost savings. The platform continues to serve as a cornerstone for secure remote operations, enabling efficient field site access while maintaining the highest security standards.