Future-Proofing Networks

Information technology (IT) serves as the fundamental infrastructure for any modern organization. It plays a crucial role in overseeing, handling, and safeguarding essential operations such as email communication, financial management, human resources, and various other applications both within the data center and across cloud platforms.

On the other hand, operational technology (OT) serves the purpose of linking, supervising, managing, and securing an organization's industrial operations. Sectors like manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, utilities, and transportation heavily rely on OT for smooth functioning. Within the realm of OT, one can find an array of vital components including robots, industrial control systems (ICS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and computer numerical control (CNC) machines.

Furthermore, operational technology extends beyond the confines of traditional industrial settings, manifesting in environments like warehouses, parking lots, and highways. Diverse examples of OT in these contexts encompass ATMs, kiosks, connected public transport systems including buses and trains, service fleets, weather stations, and infrastructure facilitating electric vehicle charging management within cities.

A fundamental distinction between IT and OT lies in their primary focuses. IT predominantly handles the front-end informational activities of an organization, whereas OT is primarily concerned with the back-end production processes, particularly the machinery involved.

OT and IT network infrastructures share similarities in their core components, encompassing switches, routers, and wireless technologies. Consequently, the adoption of IT's established network management and security controls can significantly benefit OT networks, fostering a robust foundation built on years of expertise and diligence.

Form factor: OT network devices are designed in smaller, modularized forms, facilitating diverse mounting options including rail, wall, light poles, vehicles, and even integration within other equipment.

Hardening: In demanding industrial environments, OT network infrastructure often requires ruggedization to withstand harsh conditions. Resilience against shock, vibration, water, extreme temperatures, and corrosive elements becomes paramount.

Network interfaces: Depending on specific operational requirements, OT devices might integrate diverse networks like LoraWAN or WiSun to connect various industrial IoT (IIoT) devices.

Protocols: OT network devices serve to connect IoT sensors and machinery, necessitating support for communication protocols uncommon in conventional IT networks. Hence, industrial networking solutions must accommodate a wide spectrum of protocols, including Modbus, Profinet, and the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP). These distinctions underscore the unique demands and considerations for deploying robust and efficient OT networks in industrial settings.

In any computing environment, safeguarding against cyber threats is paramount. Computer systems confront a broad spectrum of potential cybersecurity risks, necessitating robust protective measures across both IT and OT domains.

Yet, the distinctive nature of OT environments renders them particularly susceptible to cyber threats. Often characterized by long-lived systems with infrequent updates, these environments are more prone to harbor software vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit.

Simultaneously, these systems are tasked with maintaining high levels of availability and overseeing critical infrastructure, amplifying the potential ramifications of a cybersecurity breach. A successful cyberattack could lead to operational disruptions or even jeopardize health and safety, given these systems' capacity to interact with the physical world.

As the convergence of IT and OT environments intensifies, the necessity for comprehensive OT security monitoring and management becomes increasingly critical. Relying solely on the concept of an "air gap" to shield OT systems is no longer sufficient. Organizations must establish robust protocols to detect and thwart potential attacks before they can compromise these vulnerable systems. This proactive approach is crucial in upholding the resilience and integrity of industrial operations.