Overview of Cyber-Physical Assets

Cyber-physical assets — IoT devices, OT infrastructure, and IoMT medical equipment — represent the convergence of digital and physical systems, significantly expanding the enterprise attack surface beyond conventional IT.

These assets are uniquely challenging because they are often unmanaged, unpatchable, and communicate through non-standard protocols. The Axonius platform addresses this by aggregating data through specialized discovery tools, including the Axonius Network Inspector physical device and software adapter, to establish verified inventories for distinct cyber-physical asset classes. This unified visibility is essential for mapping total risk exposure and enabling segmentation and policy enforcement actions on devices that can't support traditional security agents.

IoT Devices

The Internet of Things (IoT) encompasses network-connected devices used for general business operations, such as security cameras, smart building controls, environmental sensors, and connected infrastructure. These devices are typically unmanaged and communicate through protocols that traditional security tools don't monitor.

Axonius CPA passively discovers and classifies IoT devices, providing visibility into device type, manufacturer, firmware, network location, and communication behavior — without requiring agents or active scanning.

OT Devices

Operational Technology (OT) includes industrial control systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), SCADA systems, and other equipment that manage physical processes in manufacturing, utilities, and critical infrastructure. OT hardware is designed for extended lifecycles and is highly sensitive to disruption — aggressive network activity or unexpected restarts can halt production or compromise safety systems.

Effective security requires passive discovery methods to maintain system uptime. The Axonius platform provides the contextual data necessary to inventory devices running unsupported software and perform policy actions (such as network isolation) that reduce risk without compromising the functional integrity of the OT environment.

IoMT Devices

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) includes clinical equipment such as infusion pumps, patient monitors, and imaging systems used in healthcare environments. Securing IoMT assets is uniquely constrained by patient safety requirements and strict regulatory compliance. Medical devices often contain Protected Health Information (PHI) and are governed by rigorous change control processes that prohibit rapid software updates. Security actions must be clinically non-disruptive.

The Axonius platform provides deep data correlation by integrating clinical context (device criticality, location) with vulnerability data. This enables biomedical engineering and security teams to apply risk mitigation strategies, such as micro-segmentation or virtual patching, that preserve essential device functionality and maintain continuous patient care.