Semtech Corporation and Palo Alto Networks have integrated their hardware and security software to protect industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and operational technology (OT) networks, as critical infrastructure faces an escalating wave of cyber attacks.

The partnership combines Semtech’s AirLink 5G and LTE edge routers with Palo Alto Networks’ firewalls and machine identity management systems. The integration establishes automated, encrypted tunnels from remote industrial assets—such as utility sensors and factory robotics—directly to core security networks, enabling operators to monitor and protect distributed equipment at scale.

The deployment of edge security systems comes amid a surge in state-sponsored and ransomware attacks on industrial facilities. In recent months, suspected Iranian hackers targeted internet-connected programmable logic controllers at US water utilities across at least seven states, while a separate cyber attack forced a UK power plant offline for four days.

Manufacturing facilities are also increasingly targeted, accounting for nearly a third of global ransomware attacks in August 2026. In response, new regulations such as the European Union’s NIS2 Directive and the UK’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill are classifying manufacturing and industrial networks as critical national infrastructure, mandating stricter security controls and incident reporting.

“Securing distributed industrial assets requires both trusted connectivity at the edge and robust enforcement at the core,” said Kinana Hussain, vice president of AirLink Networking Solutions at Semtech.

The joint Zero Trust architecture automates certificate provisioning and machine identity management, eliminating manual configuration across thousands of remote field assets. Security researchers note that OT assets are frequently targeted because they are often difficult to patch or update quickly without disrupting critical physical services.