Mining
Mining operations span vast geographies — from corporate head offices in Johannesburg to remote mine sites across Southern Africa. Securing this distributed infrastructure requires solutions that work in harsh environments, over limited connectivity, and across the boundary between information technology and operational technology. OAS delivers managed security, Citrix remote access, and resilient backup solutions designed for the realities of mining.
The IT Challenges Unique to Mining
Mining organisations operate in an environment that most IT security frameworks were not designed for. Corporate offices, processing plants, and remote mine sites each present distinct challenges. Operational technology (OT) systems that control physical processes sit alongside traditional IT infrastructure. Connectivity at remote sites is often limited or intermittent. Harsh environmental conditions stress equipment and infrastructure.
Cyberattacks on mining operations are increasing — ransomware campaigns target corporate systems, while more sophisticated actors probe the boundary between IT and OT networks. A security breach can halt production, compromise safety systems, and trigger regulatory scrutiny under the Mine Health and Safety Act and POPIA.
How OAS Secures Mining Operations
OAS combines enterprise IT security expertise with an understanding of distributed, harsh-environment operations. Our managed services are designed to function reliably across the full geography of a mining enterprise.
Citrix Remote Access for Mine Sites
Citrix virtual desktops and virtual applications deliver corporate systems — ERP, fleet management, geological modelling, and mine planning software — to any authorised device at any site. Engineers and geologists at remote locations access the same applications as head office staff. Sensitive data remains centralised; only screen pixels travel to the endpoint.
OAS's Citrix Platinum partnership and 40+ years of deployment expertise ensure your virtual workspace performs reliably, even over bandwidth-constrained connections to remote sites. HDX protocol optimisation delivers a responsive experience where other solutions struggle.
Endpoint Protection That Works Offline
SentinelOne autonomous EDR protects every endpoint across your operation — head office workstations, plant control room terminals, and site laptops. AI-driven behavioural detection does not rely on cloud connectivity or signature updates. Protection continues in full even at remote sites with intermittent or no internet access.
Ransomware rollback capability restores affected files automatically — critical when a production-halting attack cannot wait for a backup restoration cycle.
Visibility Across Every Site
N-able RMM provides centralised, 24/7 monitoring across your entire IT estate — from head office to the most remote site. Automated alerting identifies issues before they affect operations. Patch management addresses vulnerabilities across distributed infrastructure where manual updates are impractical.
Multi-tenant architecture allows OAS to manage multiple sites and subsidiaries from a single platform while maintaining strict separation.
Network Segmentation Between IT and OT
Citrix NetScaler and Nutanix Flow microsegmentation provide the segmentation layer between your corporate IT network and operational technology systems. This separation is critical. A ransomware infection in the corporate email system must never reach the systems that control physical mining processes. NetScaler Web Application Firewall protects internet-facing systems, while Zero Trust network access controls who can reach what — based on identity and policy, not network location.
Resilient Backup and Recovery
Cove Data Protection delivers encrypted, immutable cloud backups that protect corporate data, site-level systems, and Microsoft 365 environments. Direct-to-cloud backup works from any location with connectivity. All backup data is stored within South African borders. Recovery is tested and documented — so when an incident occurs, your recovery time is measured in hours, not days.
SIEM for Operational Visibility
Splunk centralised log aggregation correlates security events across your IT estate. Compliance reporting supports Mine Health and Safety Act requirements, POPIA obligations, and internal audit standards. Incident investigation capabilities provide the forensic evidence needed when a security event occurs.
Compliance and Governance
Mining organisations in South Africa operate under multiple regulatory frameworks:
- POPIA — protection of employee, contractor, and community personal information
- Mine Health and Safety Act — where IT systems support safety-critical operations, their integrity is a compliance matter
- King IV governance principles — board-level accountability for IT risk management
- Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act — data retention and reporting requirements
OAS provides compliance documentation that maps your security controls to these frameworks, giving your governance team auditable evidence.
Why Mining Companies Choose OAS
- 40+ years of enterprise IT experience across Southern Africa
- Citrix Platinum Partner — proven remote access over constrained connectivity
- Offline endpoint protection — SentinelOne operates without constant network access
- IT/OT segmentation expertise — protecting the boundary between corporate and operational systems
- Multi-site management — centralised visibility across head office, plants, and remote sites
- 24/7 managed service — mining operations run around the clock, and so does OAS
- Data sovereignty — all data remains within South African borders
Your Operations Depend on Secure Infrastructure
A single ransomware incident can halt production across your entire operation. OAS's free security assessment evaluates your current defences — from head office to the most remote site — and provides a practical roadmap to resilient, enterprise-grade protection.