What is Operational Technology?
Operational Technology (OT) refers to the hardware and software systems that monitor and control physical devices, processes, and events within an organization. Unlike Information Technology (IT), which deals with data and business systems, OT focuses on the functionality and safety of physical processes such as manufacturing, energy distribution, transportation, and facility operations. OT systems are critical in industries like manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, and healthcare, where they ensure that industrial processes operate efficiently and safely.
Operational Technology in Cybersecurity
As industries digitize and integrate traditional OT systems with IT networks, the security of operational technology has become a top priority. OT systems, historically isolated from external networks, are increasingly interconnected through Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices, cloud services, and smart technologies. This convergence exposes OT to cyber threats such as ransomware, malware, and nation-state attacks.
OT cybersecurity aims to safeguard these systems by implementing strategies like network segmentation, regular vulnerability assessments, and real-time monitoring to protect critical infrastructure from disruption or compromise.
What are Operational Technology Devices?
Operational technology devices are specialized tools designed to interact with and control physical processes. Examples of these devices include:
- Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs): Used in industrial automation to control machinery and processes.
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems: Centralized systems that monitor and control large-scale industrial operations, such as power grids or water treatment plants.
- Distributed Control Systems (DCS): Common in manufacturing and processing industries for real-time process control.
- Robots and Actuators: Automated tools and mechanisms used in manufacturing and assembly lines.
- Sensors and Smart Devices: Deployed to collect data and monitor physical conditions such as temperature, pressure, or flow rates.
Operational Technology Examples by Industry
Operational technology systems are found in various industries and applications, including:
- Manufacturing: Assembly lines, CNC machines, and robotic welders
- Energy & Utilities: Power generation turbines, electric grid monitoring systems, and water treatment facilities
- Transportation: Rail signaling systems, airport baggage handling systems, and traffic light controls
- Healthcare: MRI machines, patient monitoring systems, and laboratory equipment
- Building Management: HVAC systems, elevator controls, and security systems like surveillance cameras and access control
Operational Technology vs. Information Technology
What exactly is the difference between operational technology and information technology? While OT and IT share similarities in their reliance on digital systems, their purposes and priorities differ significantly:
- Purpose: OT focuses on controlling and ensuring the safety and reliability of physical processes, while IT manages data and supports business operations.
- Environment: OT operates in industrial settings, often dealing with real-time processes that require high availability and low latency. IT is more commonly found in office environments, prioritizing data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
- Lifecycle: OT systems typically have a longer lifecycle (10–20 years or more) compared to IT systems, which may be upgraded every few years.
- Security Priorities: In OT, availability and safety are paramount, as downtime or malfunction can lead to physical harm, environmental damage, or financial loss. In IT, the primary focus is often on data confidentiality and integrity.
The Importance of Operational Technology Security
Operational technology security is essential for protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring the continuity of industrial processes. A successful attack on OT systems can result in significant consequences, including production downtime, equipment damage, and safety hazards. For example, a cyberattack targeting a power grid could disrupt electricity supply to millions of people, while a breach in a water treatment facility could contaminate drinking water.
To enhance OT security, organizations should adopt a defense-in-depth approach, including:
- Network Segmentation: Isolating OT networks from IT and external networks to limit the attack surface.
- Patch Management: Regularly updating OT devices and systems to address known vulnerabilities.
- Real-Time Monitoring: Using intrusion detection systems (IDS) and continuous monitoring to detect anomalies and potential threats.
- Incident Response Plans: Developing and testing plans tailored to OT environments to ensure quick recovery in case of a cyber incident.
Operational technology plays a vital role in enabling the functionality and safety of critical processes across industries. As OT systems become more connected and integrated with IT, the importance of robust OT cybersecurity cannot be overstated. By understanding the unique challenges and characteristics of OT, organizations can better protect their infrastructure, minimize risks, and maintain operational resilience in an evolving threat landscape.
Protecting the Attack Surface with Bitsight
By regularly rating critical infrastructure cybersecurity, governments and businesses can:
Continuously monitor critical infrastructure cybersecurity
Bitsight delivers actionable and continuous insight into cyber risks threatening a nation. Rather than relying on subjective, outdated datasets, governments leverage Bitsight to continuously and automatically measure, monitor, and learn more about specific cybersecurity risks. Bitsight reveals the prevalence of risks and vulnerabilities within the country, and the specific risks facing critical organizations. Bitsight ratings also issue alerts when the security posture of agencies or nations change or deviate from established risk thresholds.
Inform decision-making with forensic data
Bitsight Sovereign Security Ratings reveal data-driven risk insights so stakeholders make better decisions to improve security postures and address risk. Forensic details and infection data help cybersecurity teams facilitate remediation. Government stakeholders review cybersecurity trends within their nation, execute searches on a country-wide level, and put plans in place to reduce risk and prevent cybercrime.
Benchmark national security performance
Bitsight’s unique data and insights enable governments to understand their country’s national cybersecurity performance. With Bitsight for Critical National Infrastructure, governments can benchmark their own security performance against counterparts to understand how key industries perform when compared to other nations. With these insights, governments identify security shortcomings, set realistic targets, create security plans, and reduce cyber risk.