Ransomware in the Workplace: What to Do?
Ransomware attacks are increasing in the UK and no organisation is immune, regardless of size or sector. So how can you reduce the chances of being hit? Tyrex shares some…
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the backbone of modern industry, infrastructure, and smart enterprises. From sensors monitoring critical infrastructure to automated machinery on a factory floor, billions of connected devices are driving unprecedented efficiency and innovation. However, this hyper-connectivity has also created a vast and vulnerable attack surface, making robust IoT cybersecurity an urgent operational priority.
Stay Secure
The Inherent Risk in a Connected World
While many security strategies focus on network and cloud vulnerabilities, they often overlook a fundamental threat vector: the physical ports used for maintenance, configuration, and data transfer. A single USB drive used to update firmware can introduce malware that compromises an entire network of connected devices. Tyrex addresses this critical gap with hardware-enforced decontamination stations, providing a physical line of defence to secure your entire IoT ecosystem from the ground up.
The explosive growth of IoT has outpaced the development of embedded security measures. Many devices are designed with minimal processing power and memory, leaving little room for robust, built-in security controls. This makes them prime targets for cybercriminals seeking to infiltrate networks, disrupt operations, or access sensitive data. An attack on Industrial IoT (IIoT) systems, for example, can halt production lines, compromise safety protocols, or damage expensive equipment.
Key Takeaways
The Problem
IoT and IIoT devices often lack sufficient built-in security and are frequently managed via physical media like USBs, creating a major security vulnerability.
The Risk
A compromised IoT device can lead to widespread operational disruption, data breaches, and even physical safety hazards in industrial environments.
The Solution
A hardware-enforced decontamination station that cleans and verifies every removable media device before it can be used to service or update IoT systems.
Trusted by over 30,000 Partners
A Hardware-Enforced Approach to IoT Cybersecurity
Tyrex provides a definitive solution to the physical threat vector in IoT cybersecurity. Our decontamination stations create a mandatory checkpoint for all removable media, ensuring that no device can connect to your network before it has been thoroughly analysed and cleansed of any potential threats. This physical enforcement is a critical layer of security that cannot be bypassed or disabled like software can.
Our stations use a multi-layered scanning process, combining five antivirus and two anti-malware engines to detect and neutralise even the most sophisticated threats. By focusing on decontaminating the media at a secure, isolated kiosk, Tyrex prevents malware from ever reaching your interconnected devices. This approach is crucial for maintaining the integrity of both individual IoT endpoints and the wider network they operate on, and our solutions are designed to be adaptable to any IT or IoT architecture.
Built for Critical Industrial Environments
In sectors like manufacturing, energy, and logistics, where IoT reliability is directly linked to productivity and safety, our solutions provide essential assurance. Tyrex helps organisations align with industrial cybersecurity best practices and standards by providing a fully auditable trail of all media interactions, ensuring that every data transfer is accounted for and secure.
This guide is authored by the cybersecurity specialists at Tyrex, who have protected Forbes 2000 companies and critical UK & European infrastructure for over six years.
Guarding Infrastructures
Enhancing Security in Practice: An Industrial IoT Cybersecurity Use Case
The table below demonstrates how a Tyrex station transforms this potential vulnerability into a secure, controlled process.
| Challenge | Without Tyrex | With Tyrex |
|---|---|---|
| Firmware Updates | The technician uses an unverified USB drive, potentially introducing malware directly into the IoT network. | The technician's USB is first inserted into a Tyrex station, which detects and removes any threats before the update proceeds. |
| Network Integrity | Malware from the USB could spread across the network, causing production to halt and leading to costly downtime. | The threat is neutralised at the hardware kiosk, completely isolated from the critical operational network. |
| Security Auditing | There is no record of what files were transferred, creating a compliance and security blind spot. | The entire transaction is logged, providing a clear and permanent audit trail for security and compliance. |
4500
Decontamination Stations Deployed
The Unmatched Power of TYREX: Measurable Success
Versatile Deployment for Any IoT Ecosystem
IoT environments are incredibly diverse, and your security solution must be equally flexible. Tyrex offers a range of form factors to protect every access point. Our rugged Tyrex K-REX Mobile units are ideal for field engineers servicing remote infrastructure, while our fixed console and Tyrex Satellite stations provide permanent, reliable security for factory floors, data centres, and smart building management systems.
Insertion
The user inserts the USB drive into the Tyrex station.
Threat Neutralisation
If malware is detected, Tyrex stations can be configured to neutralise the threat, quarantine infected files, or securely erase the drive's content.
Safe Usage
Once a device is certified clean by the Tyrex station, it can be safely used within the secure network environment.
This process occurs within a hardened, isolated hardware environment, ensuring that malware cannot bypass the scanning process or infect the station itself—a significant advantage over software-only solutions that run on potentially vulnerable host computers.
K-REX Console
The CONSOLE can be placed on a desk, which makes it convenient for any standard work environment. This USB media decontamination solution protects your critical infrastructures from cyber threats.
Features
- Available in 4G, 5G, WiFi, wired and offline
- 10 inch HD screen
- Weight: 12kg
K-REX Totem
The TOTEM can be positionned on the floor, at the entrance of reception halls or in any public areas. This USB decontamination solution comprises a small platform to hold your hard drive during the antivirus scan.
Features
- Available in 4G, 5G, WiFi, wired and offline
- 24 inch HD screen
- Weight: 54kg
K-REX Satallite
The SATELLITE USB decontamination station can be hung on a wall. It is particularly adapted to confined spaces such as ships or meeting rooms. With 5 anti-virus and 2 anti-malware running simultaneously, the SATELLITE is able to scan and clean your USB devices and prevent cyber threats or viruses from spreading through your information system.
Features
- Available in 4G, 5G, WiFi, wired and offline
- 7 inch HD screen
- Weight: 6kg
K-REX Mobile
The MOBILE is a movable USB decontamination station. Ruggedized with the MIL-STD-810G and ATEX military standards, it is designed for environments requiring mobility. With up to 5 antivirus and 2 optional anti-malware scanners running simultaneously, it is able to scan any USB or removable devices and prevent malwares or viruses from spreading through your information system.
Features
- Available in 4G, 5G, WiFi, wired, offline and ATEX versions
- 10 inch HD screen
- Weight: 1.3kg
Build a Resilient and Secure IoT Infrastructure
As your organisation increasingly relies on connected devices, securing every endpoint is not just an IT issue—it’s a core business imperative. Tyrex delivers the specialised hardware and expertise needed to close a critical security gap, protecting your operations, data, and reputation from the growing threat of USB-borne attacks.
Securing Every Sector
Who Benefits from Tyrex “Sheep Dip” Cyber Security?
Don’t let removable media be the Achilles’ heel of your cybersecurity posture. Tyrex USB protection solutions provide a robust, reliable, and user-friendly way to mitigate the risks associated with USB drives and other portable storage. By implementing our “white stations” or “sheep dip” cybersecurity kiosks, you add a critical layer of defence, ensuring that only clean, verified devices can access your valuable systems and data.
Defence and Government
Protecting classified networks and ensuring secure data transfer between different security domains. The term “sheep dip” is often used in this sector to describe USB scanning kiosks.
Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
Safeguarding industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA environments, and operational technology (OT) in sectors like energy, water, and transportation from cyber-physical attacks initiated via USB.
Industrial Manufacturing
Preventing malware from halting production lines or compromising automated systems, especially where “sneaker-net” USB transfers are common for updates and data logging.
Oil, Gas and Maritime
Securing remote and often disconnected assets like offshore platforms, pipelines, and vessels, where USBs are frequently used by personnel and third-party contractors.
Enterprise IT & Finance
Protecting high-value corporate data, ensuring compliance with regulations like GDPR and ISO 27001, and enforcing removable media policies effectively.
Numbers at a Glance
TYREX Protection in Numbers
250
Customers worldwide
5
Signature-based antivirus
37
of computer security threats (virus, worms, malware, trojans etc.) are created to spread through removable media
2
Anti-malware solutions
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