Operational technology and cybersecurity—a necessity in today’s world

OT is a category of computing and communication systems that manages, monitors, and controls industrial operations, with a focus on the physical devices and processes they use. Manufacturing plants, electricity grids, water utilities, oil and gas extraction, transportation, and other facilities use OT to monitor and manage operations and production activities.

While the integration of cybersecurity in business operations might seem straightforward for most industries, OT COOs have higher stakes in play, with the risk of major disruptions and safety issues caused if there are silos between different operations and cybersecurity.

COOs are dealing with unprecedented levels of change, due to OT/IT convergence and the expansion of their roles to manage cyber risk; such risk management concerns challenge COOs significantly more than any other risk component. At the same time CISOs are expanding their...