Time to Rethink: OT Strategies Are Failing
Azeem Aleem, Executive Director of Cyber Resilience Services at CPX, stresses that securing OT environments demands Trusted Advisors, secure-by-design practices, and collaboration to protect critical infrastructure and ensure resilience and safety.
Over the last five years, the threat landscape has become increasingly sophisticated, including in operational technology (OT) environments. With OT today underpinning critical infrastructure across industries, from energy and transportation to manufacturing and public services, it has become an attractive target to attackers.
OT environments do not simply support the flow of data; they ensure the reliable operation of systems that impact lives and physical environments. Unlike information technology (IT), where downtime is inconvenient but often manageable, disruptions in OT can halt production, lead to environmental disasters, or even endanger human life. Recent high-profile incidents have shifted the global understanding of cyber risk and revealed the devastating consequences of inadequate OT security.
The integration of technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), AI, and cloud-based systems has especially contributed to the expansion of vulnerabilities in OT environments. Safeguarding these systems requires a reimagined approach to cybersecurity rooted in trust, collaboration, and strategies specifically designed to address industrial realities.
Unfortunately, many organizations continue to rely on IT-derived cybersecurity frameworks that are poorly suited to the unique demands of OT. Strategies like frequent patching, vulnerability scanning, and endpoint protections without adaptation often falter when applied to industrial environments, where reliability, uptime, and safety are paramount.
Trusted Advisors: A Critical Role in OT Security
Addressing the challenges of OT security requires more than tools or technology. It demands the expertise of Trusted Advisors, professionals who combine deep technical knowledge of industrial systems with strategic foresight and collaboration skills. Trusted Advisors serve as bridges between engineers, cybersecurity teams, and business leaders, ensuring security strategies align with both operational needs and organizational goals. They help bring a level of confidence and reliability that is essential for addressing the unique complexities of OT environments.
These advisors grasp both the complexities of industrial control systems and the risks posed by IIoT and remote access. They understand that even a simple OT vulnerability scan can disrupt critical processes, so they favor risk-based approaches over one-size-fits-all IT controls, prioritizing practical solutions that don’t compromise production or safety. Their expertise is strengthened by adherence to OT-specific standards, offering frameworks tailored to industrial environments.
Building trust is also at the core of a Trusted Advisor’s role. By fostering collaboration across departments and stakeholders, they ensure that cybersecurity not only protects but enables operations and innovation.
Cybersecurity by Design
A key failing in OT cybersecurity practices is the tendency to treat security as an afterthought. Many organizations attempt to address vulnerabilities after systems are already in place, leading to costly retrofits, inefficiencies, and persistent risks. Organizations should be integrating cybersecurity at the earliest stages of system development.
This “cybersecurity by design” approach incorporates security requirements early into the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) lifecycle. For instance, in the Engineering phase, risk assessments and security zoning address vulnerabilities before systems take shape. Procurement teams choose vendors aligned with standards like IEC 62443, ensuring secure technologies from the outset. During deployment, rigorous Factory and Site Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT) confirms that security controls work as intended in real operational environments.
Embedding security early delivers multiple benefits. Organizations can minimize disruptions to uptime, avoid expensive late-stage fixes, and create systems that are resilient from day one. Standards such as IEC 62443 and NIST SP 800-82 provide critical guidance for integrating security measures throughout a system’s lifecycle, enabling organizations to protect their infrastructure while maintaining operational continuity.
Collaboration for OT Resilience
Effective OT cybersecurity cannot be achieved in isolation. The complexity and interdependence of industrial systems requires collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including asset owners, vendors, system integrators, regulators, and service providers.
Collaboration begins with shared intelligence. Exchanging insights on vulnerabilities, attack methods, and best practices allows organizations to detect emerging threats more quickly and respond more effectively. Frameworks such as IEC 62443 provide a valuable foundation for alignment, enabling stakeholders to use a common language and adopt consistent security principles.
Resilient OT security isn’t just about technology, it depends on a shared culture that values safety, uptime, and operational integrity. This means uniting engineering, cybersecurity, operations, and leadership to create strategies that work both technically and practically. Governments and regulators also play a key role. Public policy can foster alignment on standards, provide funding for cybersecurity research, and support workforce development to address the growing need for expertise in OT security. Collective action amplifies the impact of individual efforts, creating an ecosystem that is capable of addressing the ever-changing cyber threat landscape.
Looking Ahead: A Shared Responsibility
The path to securing OT environments lies in acknowledging that cybersecurity is not just a technological challenge. It is a strategic, organizational, and cultural challenge that touches every corner of industrial operations.
IT-centric solutions no longer work; OT demands long-term strategies grounded in the realities of industrial infrastructure. Trusted Advisors, secure-by-design thinking, and cross-stakeholder collaboration can deliver systems that are both resilient and aligned with operational needs.
Protecting OT environments is a shared responsibility. The industries, governments, and communities that depend on critical infrastructure must work together to protect these essential systems. The resilience of the world’s most vital systems and the safety of those they serve hinge on the decisive action taken now.
