We’re pleased to share that ZeroTier has been recognized as an example vendor in the 2026 Gartner Hype Cycle for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Security.
Modern enterprises move fast.
Connectivity across underlying frameworks blending software, networks, and physical processes is the invisible thread tying it all together. While manufacturing and smart factories are major areas for these interconnected systems, they appear across many non-industrial fields, and include autonomous edge devices, software-defined vehicles, and even access endpoints for remote teams working on critical infrastructure. Connecting these cyber-physical systems (CPS) keeps operations efficient, but it also expands the attack surface.
Gartner recently released its Hype Cycle for Cyber-Physical Systems Security, 2026, outlining the technologies shaping the future of OT, ICS, and IoT protection. ZeroTier was named as a Sample Vendor for its capabilities in segmentation, flexibility, and encryption in the CPS Network Cloaking and Segmentation category.
Here is our take on why this matters and where industrial networking goes from here.
The Shift from Legacy OT to Modern CPS
For decades, industrial security relied on the Purdue model; rigid, hardware-heavy layers designed to keep operational technology separated from enterprise IT.
That model is showing its age. Modern operations demand real-time data flow, remote maintenance, and cross-site collaboration. Trying to force modern CPS workflows into legacy IT firewalls and complex VPN setups creates friction, administrative drag, and potentially significant security gaps. This risk increases as the world moves rapidly towards AI-enabled autonomous physical systems, and a threat landscape that includes quantum computing capabilities.
As Gartner notes, security leaders need practical strategies to manage the convergence of digital and physical assets without disrupting production. Furthermore, operation manpower is often at a premium and any chosen security solutions need to support CPS discovery, are easily deployed, and highly scalable.
Segmentation Without the Administrative Headache
Gartner highlights zoning and segmentation of CPS environments as a critical capability for preventing lateral threat movement and protecting physical process controls.
Many solutions in the industrial space force you to manage IT and OT through completely separate systems, adding operational bloat and making cross-domain connectivity a massive pain point.
ZeroTier bridges this gap. ZeroTier gives a single, unified network platform that seamlessly spans enterprise IT, cloud environments, and OT field sites. You get centralized control and visibility across your entire footprint, eliminating the siloed mess of managing multiple overlay tools just to get IT and OT talking safely.
We deliver software-defined, peer-to-peer connectivity that lets you build secure enclaves across any environment. You get precise control over which assets can talk to each other, whether they are on a factory floor, across cloud regions, or at a remote field site.
No specialized hardware. No manual routing acrobatics. Just direct, end-to-end encrypted networks that are set up in minutes.
Native Layer 2 bridging for legacy OT protocols
Older CPS environments like industrial sites run on legacy equipment. Many critical OT devices and controllers rely on unroutable, non-IP, or specialized Layer 2 protocols that typical VPNs or Layer 3 overlays simply don’t operate with.
Because ZeroTier operates as a virtual Layer 2 Ethernet switch, it supports native Layer 2 bridging out of the box. Broadcast, multicast, and legacy OT protocols work seamlessly across your secure network—no awkward re-engineering of your plant floor hardware required. You can connect legacy PLCs and modern cloud analytics on the exact same virtual network effortlessly.
Building Resilient Operations
Analyst recognition is great, but real-world execution is what keeps plants running, drones flying, cameras recording, and key assets secure. As regulatory pressure mounts and cyber threats grow more sophisticated, industrial organizations need networking capabilities that scales easily and avoids disrupting daily operations.
We build ZeroTier to cut through networking chaos so engineering and security teams can focus on what actually matters: keeping systems operational, highly secure, and resilient.
Ready to simplify your network architecture? Explore how ZeroTier secures cyber-physical systems across global operations, or contact our enterprise team to start building your network today.
Gartner Disclaimer
Gartner, Hype Cycle for CPS Security, 2026
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