There's more to our industrial routers than meets the eye. Many know about our ruggedized design and modular capabilities, but few know these routers have been living double lives, with advanced security features built-in and tailored to various use-cases.
Why is this important?
Whether your goal is to reduce railway delays, strengthen power grid stability, improve road safety with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), or collect data from wind turbines to optimize repair schedules, you face a common challenge: connecting more operational technology (OT) assets will increase cybersecurity risks.
Let's discuss how to improve cybersecurity at the industrial edge-such as in utility substations, transportation intersections, and oil & gas pipelines-without needing extra hardware. This is especially important as cyberattacks become more advanced and government regulations (like NERC CIP, NIS2, and TSA mandates) require stronger security compliance.
At the same time, customers remain CAPEX-sensitive, looking for solutions that deliver both connectivity and security without adding cost and complexity. A router with advanced firewall capabilities helps avoid the cost and complexity of adding a second device that needs to be managed.
Some vendors can't provide advanced firewall features in their routers. Cisco industrial routers, however, have these advanced firewalls features built-in NOT bolted on.
Router vs. Firewalls: Why Both Matter
Industrial routers are designed to provide reliable connectivity and protocol translation in harsh, mission-critical environments. They ensure uptime, redundancy, and secure communications across distributed sites.
However, routing capabilities alone don't protect against today's advanced security threats. That's where Industrial advanced firewall capabilities come in, delivering:
- Application aware policies
- Intrusion Prevention (IPS/IDS)
- Advanced Malware Protection (AMP)
- Encrypted Traffic Inspection
- Identity-Based Access Policies
- Segmentation and isolation
The challenge for industrial customers has been needing both rugged connectivity and enterprise-grade cybersecurity and resilient connectivity. Cisco solves this by embedding advanced firewall and security features directly into its industrial routing platforms.
Cisco IRs combine resilience, modularity, and security into one platform-reducing cost and complexity while improving cyber defense for a multitude of industrial use-cases.
Advanced security capabilities by industrial use-case and identifying the right Cisco industrial router
Different industries face various security threats. Cisco Industrial Routers are designed to address these specific challenges based on each use case, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. This means there is an industrial router tailored for almost every scenario, helping secure customers' industrial networks and protect their critical assets. Let's look at just SOME of the critical use-cases that these industrial routers address
IR1101: "The enforcer" that protects critical transportation systems from cybersecurity threats
Intelligent Traffic Management systems such as signal control, smart parking, and vehicle detection systems depend on reliable and secure communication between sensors and controllers located in roadside traffic cabinets and applications running in centralized command centers. These systems are critical for ensuring smooth traffic flow, public safety, and efficient transport operations. If any component-such as a roadside controller or cabinet sensor-were to be affected by a cyberattack or a rogue device, it could lead to signal outages, traffic congestion, or unsafe driving conditions, directly impacting city operations and public safety. To mitigate these risks, the network must be locked down to trusted assets, ensuring that only authorized devices and applications can communicate at the remote site and to the control center.
The IR1101 provides essential security service for monitoring and communication protocols-such as NTCIP and Modbus that are typically deployed at a roadway intersection. The Cisco IR1101 Rugged Router, with its built-in application-aware firewall, plays a key role in ensuring secure and efficient network operations.
IR1101: "The enforcer" that protects the distribution automation system for the utility grid
The challenge:
Utility distribution automation systems face growing cybersecurity challenges as they modernize legacy grid infrastructure and extend connectivity to thousands of remote field assets such as reclosers, capacitor banks, and DER controllers. Many of these distribution systems continue to depend on legacy OT protocols such as DNP3 and IEC 101/104. These protocols, developed decades ago, lack inherent security features.
As organizations increase IP connectivity across distribution systems, feeders, and edge sites, the overall attack surface expands, making these environments more vulnerable to modern cyber threats. Limited physical security at distribution locations, long asset lifecycles, and constrained power and compute budgets make it difficult to deploy traditional IT security controls, leaving devices vulnerable to malware, unauthorized access and lateral threat movement.
IR1101 solution:
The IR1101 provides essential security services for securing communication protocols at a recloser bank such as MACsec and application aware monitoring for OT protocols such as Modbus, DNP3 and IEC101/104 to ensure secure network operations.
Platform security advantage: using an advanced application aware firewall and segmentation the IR1101 enforces policy-based access control and application-layer threat detection for over 1000 applications. It allows for communication only on approved ports and checks for suspicious operations in the application. This limits potential collateral damage if a device is compromised or begins to behave suspiciously. Signal management, smart parking, and other critical utility network assets are placed in logically isolated network segments. The IR1101 via its network segmentation capabilities, prevents risk of a lateral movement from impacting the broader system.
IR1835: "The defender" designed to protect critical public infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines
Critical infrastructure environments such as oil and gas pipelines, demand always-on connectivity and rigorous security between connected assets. These distributed systems rely on constant communication between controllers, PLCs, RTUs, and central operations to make sure that operations run smooth. A single breach-such as a compromised PLC - could result in operational downtime or safety risks across large-scale infrastructure. To safeguard these environments, the network must ensure that only trusted devices and validated applications can exchange data. The IR1835 excels at preventing unauthorized access or malware propagation at the edge which could potentially lead to manipulation of control systems (PLCs) that cause widespread damage.
Critical infrastructure environments such as oil and gas pipelines, demand always-on connectivity and rigorous security between connected assets. These distributed systems rely on constant communication between controllers, PLCs, RTUs, and central operations to make sure that operations run smooth. A single breach -such as a compromised PLC -could result in operational downtime or safety risks across large-scale infrastructure. To safeguard these environments, the network must ensure that only trusted devices and validated applications can exchange data. The IR1835 is very effective at stopping unauthorized access or malware at the network edge. This helps prevent attackers from taking control of systems like PLCs, which could otherwise cause serious damage.
Platform security advantage, the IR1835 offers a comprehensive advanced security stack which builds on the IR1101 which includes Threat detection Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), These advanced capabilities detect malware and ransomware threats within application flow. these threats can take over OR damage critical public service networks and cause widespread damage
IR8340: "The special operative" for securing critical utility substations
Utility substations form the backbone of critical public energy infrastructure, connecting field devices, sensors, and control systems that ensure reliable power delivery from the Grid and safe energy transfer to the end consumer. As these assets grow in number become increasingly connected and distributed, they also become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. A single compromised RTU or IED can lead to grid instability, operational downtime, and safety incidents such as missed warnings on downed powerlines. This results in disrupting power to the grid. To mitigate these threats, networks must enforce zero-trust principles-allowing only trusted devices, applications, and communications to operate across IT and OT domains. The Cisco IR8340 Industrial Router delivers this level of protection with full advanced next generation firewall capabilities and deep application-layer inspection to meet this challenge. Allowing utilities to meet compliance with the IEC 61850 standard, which is crucial in industrial networks to ensure interoperability and enhanced reliability within substations and other critical infrastructure.
Platform security advantage: includes high performance Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) for quick threat detection, malware defense, and TLS decryption to detect and block encrypted threats targeting multiple utility services such as physical security cameras and SCADA monitoring systems. The IR8340 is perfect for protecting against malware, exploits, and denial-of-service attacks, preventing adversaries from tampering with video feeds or gaining control of devices, disrupting critical power delivery
The Secret is out! One integrated, future-proof solution
With Cisco, customers don't have to choose between rugged routers and firewalls. Cisco Industrial Routers combine:
- Embedded cyber resilience
- Modularity for future growth
- Enterprise-grade advanced firewall protection
The result: fewer devices to deploy, reduced operational complexity, and stronger defenses against modern cyber threats-all from a trusted leader in industrial networking. Cisco Industrial Routers are more than just routers-they're advanced firewalls with security features built-in and tailored to secure your industrial environments.
To learn more:
Solution overview: Cisco Catalyst Industrial Routers with Cisco Next-Generation Firewall
Cisco Industrial Routers
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