Operational technology (OT) is the hardware and software that monitors and controls industrial processes. It is used in a wide range of manufacturing industries, including food and beverage, automotive, pharmaceutical, and chemical.

OT security is the practice of protecting OT systems from cyber threats. It is essential for manufacturing organizations, as a successful cyberattack on OT systems can have devastating consequences, including:

Production outages

Product quality problems

Safety hazards

Financial losses

Reputational damage

OT security presents several unique challenges, including:

Legacy systems: Many manufacturing organizations operate with legacy OT systems that lack modern security features. These systems are more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Interconnectivity: OT systems are increasingly interconnected with IT networks. This presents additional security risks, as any vulnerability in one system can be exploited to attack the other.

Complexity: OT systems are often complex and interconnected, making it difficult to identify and mitigate security risks.

Limited resources: Many manufacturing organizations have limited resources to devote to OT security.

Best Practices for OT Security

There are many best practices that manufacturing organizations can follow to improve their OT security, including:

Conduct a security assessment: The first step is to conduct a security assessment to identify vulnerabilities in OT systems. This assessment should be conducted by a qualified security professional.

Implement security controls: Once vulnerabilities have been identified, security controls should be implemented to mitigate them. This may include measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access control lists.

Update systems and software: It is important to keep OT systems and software up to date with the latest security patches. This will help to close any known vulnerabilities.

Train employees: Employees should be trained on OT security best practices. This will help them to identify and report suspicious activity.

Here are some additional tips for OT security in manufacturing:

Segment OT networks: Segmenting OT networks can help to limit the spread of a cyberattack.

Use strong authentication: Strong authentication, such as multi-factor authentication, should be used for all OT systems.

Monitor OT systems: OT systems should be monitored for suspicious activity. This can be done using a variety of security tools and technologies.

Have a response plan: Manufacturing organizations should have a plan in place to respond to cyberattacks on OT systems. This plan should include steps to contain the attack, recover from the attack, and learn from the attack.

By following these best practices and tips, manufacturing organizations can improve their OT security and reduce the risk of a cyberattack.

Case Studies

Here are a few case studies of manufacturing organizations that have successfully improved their OT security:

Case Study 1: A large food and beverage company was able to reduce the number of cyberattacks on its OT systems by 50% by implementing a number of security measures, including segmenting its OT networks, implementing strong authentication, and monitoring OT systems for suspicious activity.

Case Study 2: A pharmaceutical company was able to prevent a cyberattack from disrupting its production operations by having a response plan in place. The response plan included steps to contain the attack, recover from the attack, and learn from the attack.

Case Study 3: A chemical company was able to improve the security of its legacy OT systems by working with a security vendor to develop a customized security solution. The solution included measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and access control lists.