Energy & Utilities' Remote Access Challenge: Why VPNs and Virtual Desktops Are Costly—and How a Secure Enterprise Browser Can Transform Cybersecurity

The energy and utilities sector is the backbone of modern society, powering everything from homes and hospitals to the world's critical infrastructure. As the industry embraces digital transformation—adopting smart grids, IoT, and cloud-based collaboration—the browser has become the primary gateway to sensitive data and operational systems. Yet, many organizations still rely on legacy solutions like VPNs and virtual desktops to manage remote access and third-party collaboration. This approach not only drives up operational costs but also leaves companies exposed to a rising tide of sophisticated cyber threats targeting browsers directly.

This article explores why traditional remote access tools are failing the energy and utilities sector, the real-world consequences of these gaps, and how investing in a secure enterprise browser like Kahana's Oasis can deliver the robust protection, resilience, and productivity the industry urgently needs.

The High Cost and Complexity of Legacy Remote Access

Why Energy & Utilities Still Depend on VPNs and Virtual Desktops

Historically, energy and utility companies have leaned on VPNs and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to provide remote access to internal systems and critical operational technology (OT). The rationale: by routing all traffic through a secure tunnel or virtualized environment, organizations hope to shield operations from cyberattacks and data leaks. However, as detailed in our VDI reduction analysis, this approach comes with significant costs and growing limitations:

• Licensing and Infrastructure: Running VDI and VPN environments requires substantial investment in software, hardware, and ongoing support.
• IT Overhead: These systems demand constant monitoring, patching, and troubleshooting, stretching already overburdened IT teams.
• User Friction: VPNs and virtual desktops can slow down workflows, frustrate employees, and reduce productivity—especially for field engineers and remote operators.
• Security Gaps: VPN credentials are frequent targets for attackers, and VDI environments can be compromised through browser-based exploits or misconfigurations.

The Expanding Attack Surface: Browser-Based Threats

A Sector Under Siege

The energy and utilities sector faces an evolving threat landscape, with cyberattacks growing more sophisticated and interconnected systems introducing new vulnerabilities. As explored in our analysis of virtual machine browser trends, state-sponsored actors, profit-driven cybercriminals, and malicious insiders are all targeting the sector, aiming to disrupt operations, steal sensitive data, or even cause physical damage.

Real-World Incident Examples

MOVEit Supply Chain Breach (2024)

The Cl0P ransomware group exploited a critical SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2023-34362) in Progress Software's MOVEit managed file transfer platform, compromising data from CenterPoint Energy (3 million customer records via third-party vendor CLEAResult: CenterPoint Energy data breach report), Entergy Corporation (employee benefits data: Entergy Corporation data breach notification), and over 2,700 organizations globally. The breach exposed 93 million records, with attackers using a custom web shell (LEMURLOOT) to exfiltrate data from internet-facing servers. Fourth-party risks emerged when subcontractors like payroll provider Zellis were compromised, cascading breaches to clients like British Airways and the BBC (List of MOVEit cyber attack victims).

Lesson: Patch management and third-party vendor audits are critical for mitigating supply-chain risks.

Colonial Pipeline Attack (2021)

The DarkSide ransomware group infiltrated Colonial Pipeline's network via a compromised VPN account using a password found on the dark web. The attack forced a six-day shutdown of 5,500 miles of fuel pipelines, causing gasoline shortages and panic buying across the U.S. East Coast. Colonial paid a $4.4 million ransom in Bitcoin, of which the FBI recovered $2.3 million. The breach revealed vulnerabilities in legacy IT systems and insufficient segmentation between corporate and operational technology networks (Colonial Pipeline attack analysis).

Lesson: Mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote access and network segmentation are essential for critical infrastructure.

April 2025 Iberian Power Outage

A grid instability event on April 28, 2025, caused a total blackout across Spain and Portugal for 10+ hours, disrupting 30 GW of load. The outage began with inter-area oscillations (0.217 Hz) between the Iberian Peninsula and the European synchronous grid, triggering cascading failures at substations in Granada, Badajoz, and Sevilla. Over 8 deaths were linked to backup generator failures and communication breakdowns (Power Magazine's analysis of the Iberian Peninsula blackout). ENTSO-E's investigation highlighted inadequate real-time monitoring of frequency fluctuations.

Lesson: Grid operators must implement AI-driven anomaly detection for dynamic stability management.

Ransomware Surge in Energy (2025)

The Trustwave 2025 Cybersecurity Threat Report documented a 37% YoY increase in ransomware attacks on energy/utility sectors, with average ransoms exceeding $7.4 million. Threat actors like LockBit 3.0 and Cl0P exploited browser vulnerabilities (e.g., unpatched Chrome zero-days) and exposed RDP ports to deploy ransomware like Black Basta. One attack on a U.S. utility used malicious browser extensions to bypass email security gateways (Trustwave 2025 Cybersecurity Threat Report).

Lesson: Browser isolation technologies and endpoint detection/response (EDR) tools are critical for blocking initial access vectors.

Why VPNs, VDI, and Piecemeal Browser Controls Fall Short

Operational Inefficiency

• Resource Burden: Security teams spend countless hours managing VPNs, VDI, and browser add-ons, diverting attention from proactive security measures.
• High Costs: Licensing, infrastructure, and support for legacy remote access tools are expensive and unsustainable—especially as budgets tighten.
• User Friction: Field staff and engineers often face slow, cumbersome workflows, leading to workarounds that further weaken security.

Security Gaps

• VPNs and VDI Are Not Browser-Aware: These solutions protect the network perimeter but do not address threats originating within the browser—such as credential theft, session hijacking, or malicious OAuth authorizations.
• Browser Extension Security: Unmanaged or risky browser extensions can exfiltrate sensitive data or introduce malware, even in virtual environments.
• Supply Chain and Third-Party Risks: According to SecurityScorecard's 2024 report, 67% of energy sector breaches are linked to software and IT vendors outside the sector.
• Lack of Centralized Visibility: IT teams struggle to monitor browser activity and enforce consistent policies across remote and third-party users.

The Case for an Enterprise Browser in Energy & Utilities

What Makes Enterprise Browsers Different?

An enterprise browser like Oasis by Kahana is purpose-built for secure, productive remote access in energy and utilities. Unlike consumer browsers or legacy solutions, it offers:

• Zero-Trust Security Architecture: Every session is continuously authenticated and authorized, with least-privilege access enforced by default.
• Granular Access Controls: Only authorized users and devices can reach sensitive systems, dramatically reducing the risk of unauthorized access or lateral movement.
• Browser Extension Security: Administrators can centrally allow or block extensions, preventing the installation of unapproved or risky add-ons.
• Enterprise Browser Management: IT teams can deploy, update, and manage Oasis from a single dashboard, ensuring consistent policy enforcement and compliance.
• Real-Time Threat Detection: Built-in intelligence blocks phishing, malware, and suspicious downloads before they can impact operations.
• Workforce Enablement: Secure, seamless access for employees, contractors, and third parties—without the friction of VPNs or VDI.

Real-World Impact: How Oasis Transforms Energy Sector Security

• Ransomware and Malware: Oasis's strict content policies and real-time monitoring block malicious downloads and phishing links, the primary vectors for ransomware in energy and utilities.
• Third-Party Collaboration: Contextual access controls ensure vendors and partners only access what they need, minimizing the risk of excessive privileges and supply chain attacks.
• Data Loss Prevention: Centralized controls prevent sensitive information from being copied, pasted, or downloaded to unauthorized locations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Automated audit logging and reporting help energy organizations meet NERC CIP, FERC, and other industry standards, avoiding costly penalties.

Enterprise Browser Use Cases in Energy & Utilities

• Remote Workforce Enablement: Empower field engineers and staff to work securely from any device or location, without the cost and complexity of VDI.
• Secure Third-Party Access: Grant contractors and partners browser-based access to specific resources, with granular controls and real-time monitoring.
• Browser for Enterprise Productivity: Leverage AI-powered tab grouping, project-based organization, and distraction-free focus modes to boost productivity.
• Deciding on Enterprise Browser: Evaluate Oasis as a strategic investment to replace legacy VPNs and piecemeal browser security with a unified, future-ready solution.

The Future of Browser Security in Energy & Utilities

As browser-native ransomware, supply chain attacks, and identity threats become more sophisticated, the need for a secure enterprise browser like Oasis will only grow. The sector's unique combination of strict regulations, critical infrastructure, and a distributed workforce makes it especially vulnerable to browser-based threats. By adopting a secure web browser with zero-trust architecture, granular policy controls, and real-time threat intelligence, energy and utility organizations can protect their operations, data, and reputation—while saving on operational costs.

Conclusion

The energy and utilities sector stands at a crossroads: continue investing in costly, complex legacy solutions like VPNs and virtual desktops, or embrace a new approach with a secure enterprise browser designed for the realities of today's threat landscape. Real-world incidents—from ransomware outbreaks to cascading supply chain breaches—demonstrate the urgent need for a modern, unified solution.

Kahana's Oasis Enterprise Browser rises to this challenge, providing energy and utility organizations with zero-trust security, granular permissions, advanced threat detection, and seamless user experience. For organizations looking to protect critical infrastructure, enable a productive remote workforce, and control operational costs, the answer is clear: invest in an enterprise browser built for the sector's next era.