What Makes IEC 62443 FR1 a Top Priority for OT Security This Year

When it comes to OT (Operational Technology) security, standards don’t usually make headlines. But lately, IEC 62443 FR1: Identification and Authentication Control is popping up more and more — and not just in compliance reports.

It’s 2025, and companies across Europe are under pressure to tighten their OT environments. FR1 is front and center, and for good reason.

Let’s break down what’s going on — no jargon, just the stuff you actually need to know.

So… what exactly is FR1?

FR1 is one part of the IEC 62443 family — a set of standards that helps organisations secure industrial control systems (ICS) and OT environments.

Specifically, FR1 is all about making sure the right people (and devices) are the only ones who can get in. Think:

• Unique IDs for every user and device
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Logging access and failed attempts
• No more shared passwords floating around

Sounds basic? It is — but you'd be surprised how often it's ignored.

What’s new in 2025?

FR1 isn’t new, but it’s gaining serious traction this year. Why?

1. New guidance came out this March: The IEC published a Publicly Available Specification (PAS 62443‑2‑2:2025), giving companies clear instructions on how to roll out FR1 in real-world environments. No more vague goals — now there’s a roadmap.
2. A major OT incident in France made headlines: In May 2025, a large healthcare provider suffered a shutdown when attackers used a shared vendor account to access OT systems. Turns out, they skipped basic FR1 practices — no unique identities, no MFA. It was a wake-up call.

European companies are under pressure: With NIS2 enforcement ramping up and audits around the corner, companies in energy, transport, manufacturing, and healthcare are getting serious about showing their 

Companies are asking: “Are we doing enough?”

According to a recent 2025 survey by Claroty and ISAGCA:

• Over 60% of European OT asset owners now require FR1-level authentication for vendors and partners.
• But only 30% have actually deployed certificate-based device authentication or MFA for remote users.

That’s a big gap between what people say they need and what’s actually in place.

What does FR1 look like in practice?

Here’s what companies are doing to catch up in 2025:

• Assigning unique identities to every person and machine
  No more shared logins or default passwords.
• Adding MFA for remote access
  Especially important for third-party vendors and maintenance teams.
• Logging everything
  Who accessed what, when, from where — and whether it was successful.
• Sticking to RBAC (Role-Based Access Control)
  People only get access to what they need — and nothing more.

Why you should care (even if you’re not a compliance nerd)

• Better protection
  Attackers love weak or shared credentials. FR1 cuts off that entry point.
• Regulatory peace of mind
  When auditors come knocking — and they will — you’ll have your authentication ducks in a row.
• Fewer headaches during incidents
  Logs and access records make it easier to respond, report, and recover.
• Vendor credibility
  Suppliers who support FR1 properly stand out in procurement. If you're one of them, that’s a big plus.

Final thoughts

In 2025, IEC 62443 FR1 isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s becoming the baseline. Whether you're running a power grid, operating a smart factory, or managing remote access to PLCs, strong identification and authentication are no longer optional.

If your organisation hasn’t looked at FR1 in a while, now’s the time. Not because it's a checkbox — but because the risks of ignoring it are real, and the tools to do it right are finally accessible.