DIREC project

Clearsight: Protecting Denmark’s Digital Infrastructure

Project impact

When an old pump breaks down and a warning light flashes red in a control room, it may not seem dramatic at first—but it can quickly escalate. Major outages often originate from poorly maintained digital systems: an outdated controller, a vulnerable protocol, or a configuration left untouched for years.

Critical supply systems across Europe are increasingly reliant on devices that are outdated and hard to maintain. Even minor faults can quickly snowball into major disruptions, with potentially devastating consequences for society.

This is where Clearsight comes in. The project is developing an intelligent monitoring system for OT (Operational Technology) networks, which are often classified as critical infrastructure. The system continuously checks equipment security, detects suspicious behavior, and alerts the responsible teams when intervention is needed.

The goal is to give companies and authorities an early, clear overview of their security posture. The technology is also being designed to withstand the ultimate test: deployment in Ukraine during wartime conditions.

PROJECT DATA

Project name

Clearsight – Monitoring and Defending Europe’s Critical Infrastructure

Project period
2026-2027
Funding
DKK 2.000.000

Scientific mission

Clearsight is developing a tool to identify and assess vulnerabilities in critical digital environments, with a particular focus on internet-connected control systems.


What sets the project apart is its integrated approach: active OT system scanning, continuous monitoring, and alerts designed to be usable by SMEs, helping raise cybersecurity standards across Danish companies.
 
At its core Clearsight conducts research on ethical, non-destructive detection signatures engineered to be cyber-deception- and noise-aware. They favor read-only probes, avoid actuator changes, and account for background traffic and decoys to reduce false positives; each signature is protocol-aware and validated in lab testbeds for safe use on live systems.
 
The project brings together leading experts in a collaborative effort: DTU researchers are developing the methodology and analysis models, while CSIS Security Group provides commercial feedback from industry. Kyiv Polytechnic Institute will run pilot deployments and independent confirmations in Ukraine’s industrial sector, with results handled through an ethical disclosure process.
 
Beyond improving current practices, Clearsight aims to make decision-making more transparent—so results can be clearly understood and applied by both operational teams and authorities.

Partners

Technical University of Denmark logoCSIS logoKyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) logo