The recent advancements in Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), have led to a significant upsurge in the operational technology market over the last few years. According to the Data Bridge Market Research analyses, in the forecast period of 2021 to 2028, the OT market is growing with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5% and by 2028, it’s expected to project to 33,738.33 million USD.
Gartner, a leading research company, defines Operational technology or OT as a system of hardware and software that monitors and controls changes in industrial equipment and processes. This technology is helps factories and industries in energy production and transmission, utilities, and transportation systems.
Adoption of Operational Technology
The increased spending on OT is pertinent to the convergence of OT and IT in industrial systems such as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Today, OT systems are reliant on IT information systems. OT deploys information from IT systems and the internet for adequate management of real-time plant operations.
This agility, however, has substantially augmented the cybersecurity risks. Since physical systems are now connected to firmware and software, hackers can easily target them for malicious activities. Because of this reason, it has become critical for industries to implement adaptability and flexibility in their day-to-day operations.
Latest Insights for OT security
Here we will highlight some OT security insights of businesses that employ the technology.
Insight: Centrally Visible OT system
Companies need centralized visibility to ensure optimum protection against cyberattacks. Most of the leading global industries have already achieved full or at least half visibility of their OT activities.
Insight: Cybersecurity Is Critical
Companies that conduct manufacturing processes in an operational technology need to embed security within the operations. More than half of OT leaders of top-tier companies are directly responsible for ensuring cybersecurity at the workplace.
Insight: Automated Compliance Reporting
Regular reports and compliance has become a pressing concern of businesses. Most top-tier organizations deploy automated reporting across the enterprise to acquire real-time security tracking and timely reporting of the risks and threats.
Conclusion
Industries need to focus on security awareness in their organization. Incorporating zero-trust access for users can considerably increase the security of operational technology systems.
Dexcent is a recognized OT solution provider in Canada. They offer data cybersecurity for industrial control systems and affordable IT and OT engineering solutions throughout the country. They have a team of technical experts and engineers who can listen to your concerns and provide cutting-edge technology solutions for all sorts of industrial problems. Feel free to contact them.