Integrity360’s Matthew Olney explains the ins and outs of IT and OT security, and the importance of having both secured.
From manufacturing lines and water utilities to transport hubs and energy plants, operational technology (OT) is a prime target for cybercriminals and nation-state actors.
As the lines between information technology (IT) and OT blur, understanding the difference between them and securing both effectively has never been more critical.
IT v OT security
IT security is the practice of protecting an organisation’s IT assets, including computers, networks, and data, from unauthorised access, attacks and other malicious activity. It involves using a combination of technologies, processes and physical controls to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. A key objective is to prevent threats like data breaches, malware and phishing.
OT security, on the other hand, protects the physical systems that keep operations running – machinery, control systems and critical infrastructure. Here, priorities shift: availability and safety come first, because downtime doesn’t just cost money; it can halt production or endanger lives.
Many industrial organisations still treat IT and OT as distinct domains – one governed by corporate IT teams, the other by engineering departments.
Historically, this separation made sense when OT systems operated in isolation. But that’s no longer the case.
Today, nearly 40pc of OT assets are connected to the internet without adequate security, and by 2025, 70pc of OT systems are expected to be integrated with IT networks.
With 72pc of industrial cybersecurity incidents originating in the IT environment before infiltrating OT systems, a unified, cross-functional approach to securing both realms is growing in importance.
Attackers exploit weak segmentation, unsecured remote access, and legacy systems that were never designed with cybersecurity in mind. Once inside, they can halt production, damage equipment, or even threaten human life or cause environmental damage.
The unique challenges of OT environments:
Legacy technology
Many systems run on outdated or unsupported software, sometimes decades old, that can’t easily be patched without interrupting operations.
Proprietary protocols
OT devices use vendor-specific communication methods not recognised by standard IT tools.
Availability over confidentiality
Shutting down a process for security reasons may be more damaging than the attack itself.
Human and safety impact
A compromised industrial controller could affect worker safety or public services.
Limited visibility
Without asset inventories or monitoring, intrusions can go unnoticed for months.
Common weaknesses found in OT networks
Integrity360’s experts regularly uncover recurring issues across industrial environments, including:
- Poor network segmentation, allowing attackers to move from IT to OT.
- Unpatched systems and default configurations left unchanged.
- Weak or insecure remote access used by vendors and contractors.
- Lack of asset inventory or real-time monitoring.
- No endpoint protection against malware propagation.
These weaknesses make OT environments particularly attractive to threat actors seeking maximum disruption.
When operations depend on continuous uptime, a single breach can lead to production loss, safety risks, reputational damage and regulatory penalties.
By Matthew Olney
Olney is a cybersecurity content and communications specialist with extensive experience translating complex security topics into clear, engaging content for technical and executive audiences. As content marketing and social media lead at Integrity360, he works closely with Integrity360 experts to develop thought leadership, technical blogs, webinars and multi-channel campaigns that help organisations understand and respond to emerging cyberthreats.
A version of this article previously appeared on Integrity360’s website.
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