Through our partnership with Fortinet and EXN we had a user meeting where we delved into the world of operational technology security and how we can assist our users to improve their operational technology security posture so that you are confident that your environments are effectively protected!

Operational Technology refers to the hardware and software systems that monitor and control physical devices, processes, and infrastructure in industrial and critical infrastructure environments. Operational technology is a distinct from Information Technology, which focuses on computer systems, networks, and data management.

Gartner defines operational technology security as “Practices and technologies used to (a) protect people, assets, and information, (b) monitor and/or control physical devices, processes and events, and (c) initiate state changes to enterprise OT systems.”

It is responsible for processes that if breached could impact outages of critical services that result in loss of life. Emergency services, water treatment plants, traffic management and other critical infrastructure rely on operational technology solutions to operate correctly. Effective management of Operational Technology is essential for maintaining the efficiency, safety, and security of industrial and critical infrastructure operations. As the convergence of IT and OT continues, organizations must adapt their strategies and practices to address the unique challenges of OT systems.