Page 20 - EngineerIt June 2021

CYBER SECURITY

Efficiency derived from digitally

connected OT-IT networks comes

with increased cybersecurity risks

By Rick Peters, CISO Operational Technology at Fortinet

perational technology (OT) is the cyber physical foundation that enables the The results are compiled in the Fortinet
world’s factories, energy production and transmission facilities, transportation 2021 State of Operational Technology
Onetworks and utilities to function. To boost operational efficiency and profitability, and Cybersecurity Report. The report
many OT companies have been integrating OT infrastructure and thereby indirectly illuminates where OT is most vulnerable,
connecting supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems with IT networks the types of cyberattacks organisations
to manage actionable data across a formerly air-gapped framework. However, the face, current security tactics and the
improved agility and efficiency derived from digitally connected OT-IT networks comes areas where cybersecurity protocols
with increased cybersecurity risk. need improvement.

To understand the types of threats facing operational technology and how OT teams can Security struggles continue
mitigate these threats, Fortinet conducted a survey of organisations in critical industries within OT organisations
with more than 2,500 employees. We surveyed plant and manufacturing operations This year’s report indicates that OT
leaders in: leaders continue to be involved in
1. Manufacturing cybersecurity, but it remains a struggle.
2. Energy and utilities And over the past year, the pandemic only
3. Healthcare added to the security issues leaders had
4. Transportation to face. The momentum for OT-IT network

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