Strengthening OT Operations Without Sacrificing Uptime
The Uptime-Security Balancing Act
For industrial organizations, uptime isn’t just a metric—it’s a necessity. Downtime, whether planned or unplanned, can lead to lost revenue, missed deadlines, and even safety risks. At the same time, Cyber Security has never been more critical. Threats targeting OT environments are increasing, and vulnerabilities left unaddressed can have catastrophic consequences.
So, how do organizations balance the need for operational continuity with the imperative to secure their systems? The answer lies in adopting strategies and technologies that prioritize both security and uptime.
The Cost of Downtime
Unplanned downtime due to a security incident can cost organizations millions of dollars, but even planned downtime for updates and patching presents challenges:
- Production Delays: Security maintenance often conflicts with operational schedules, slowing productivity.
- Temporary Vulnerabilities: Maintenance windows can create gaps that attackers exploit.
- Resource Allocation Issues: Downtime for security updates diverts resources from core operational goals.
These challenges highlight the need for security solutions that minimize disruptions to operations.
Solutions That Support Both Uptime and Security
Organizations don’t have to choose between security and continuity. Here’s how they can achieve both:
1. Leverage Passive Vulnerability Management:
Passive tools identify vulnerabilities without disrupting operations, providing continuous insight into potential risks.
2. Align Security Updates with Maintenance Cycles:
Scheduling updates during planned downtime ensures systems are secured without impacting production.
3. Invest in Continuous Monitoring Tools:
Solutions like NMAD allow for real-time threat detection, reducing the need for frequent downtime.
4. Adopt Proactive Threat Detection:
Identifying threats early reduces the likelihood of unplanned downtime caused by security breaches.
The Long-Term Value of Balance
When organizations find the right balance between uptime and security, the benefits are substantial:
- Improved Productivity: Fewer disruptions lead to more consistent operations.
- Reduced Risk: Proactively addressing vulnerabilities minimizes exposure to threats.
- Stronger Compliance: Security measures that align with operational schedules make meeting regulatory requirements easier.
These outcomes not only protect critical systems but also enhance overall efficiency and resilience.
Join Our Free Webinar to Discover How to Achieve Both
Balancing security and uptime is no easy task, but it’s a challenge that can be overcome with the right strategies.
Join our free webinar, Foundational Building Blocks for an Industrial Security Operations Centre (SOC), on January 14, 2025, at 12 PM MST. Our experts will share actionable steps for strengthening OT security without disrupting operations.
Register for the webinar today and start building a secure, efficient future for your OT environment.
