OT Security

What is OT security?

OT security (Operational Technology Security) is the discipline focused on protecting industrial control systems, OT networks and field devices against cyber threats. OT refers to the technologies used to monitor and control physical processes - from electricity generation to water treatment.

Unlike IT security, where data confidentiality is the priority, in OT security the primary concerns are system availability and integrity. Downtime in an industrial plant means not only financial losses, but can also endanger human safety and the environment. OT security strategies must therefore account for the specifics of industrial environments - long device lifecycles, limited patching capabilities and requirements for continuous operation.

An OT security programme covers: asset inventory, network segmentation, network traffic monitoring, vulnerability management, access control, change management and incident response. The foundation is the IEC 62443 standard, which defines security requirements for industrial automation and control systems.

Why does it matter?

The number of attacks targeting industrial infrastructure grows year on year. Groups such as Sandworm, CyberAv3ngers and Volt Typhoon actively target OT systems in the energy, water and transport sectors. Regulations such as NIS2 and IEC 62443 require infrastructure operators to implement protective measures.

For organisations with OT systems, securing those systems should be treated on equal footing with IT security. This requires collaboration between IT and OT teams, dedicated competencies and tools adapted to the specifics of industrial environments.

Related topics

• SCADA
• ICS
• IEC 62443
• Defense-in-depth