In manufacturing environments, a technical assessment of OT (operational technology) environments is the point at which managers shift from identifying risks to reducing them. At this stage, staff members can identify specific hazards and turn them into a ranked list of tasks to make systems more stable over time. As those gap analyses are conducted, they reveal the same weaknesses and missing controls, including unmanaged remote access, weak network segmentation, legacy assets, inadequate visibility, and fragmented governance. Oftentimes, on delivery of the last report, remediation measures can fall victim to the harsh reality of security recommendations being up against operations, budgeting, and production concerns.
Across organizations, the process follows a pattern where they finish gap analyses that point out the same types of risk, and they observe that the program to fix those issues loses momentum within a few months.
The issue is seldom about a lack of understanding. Manufacturing executives have come to realize that cyberattacks may interrupt manufacturing processes, put employees at risk, and impact business continuity. According to Deloitte, OT…
