Report: Firms Overestimate OT Security

Operational Technology (OT) security is the line of defense for the physical world, protecting everything from power grids and water systems to factory assembly lines from cyber threats. Unlike traditional IT security which protects data, a breach in OT can cause physical equipment damage, operational shutdowns, and risks to human safety. For decades, these industrial systems were isolated in "air-gapped" environments, disconnected from corporate networks and the internet. The push for digital transformation, remote monitoring, and data analytics has connected these legacy systems, bridging the IT/OT divide and exposing critical infrastructure to a new world of online threats. Third-party vendor access is a primary risk multiplier, with the report finding that organizations managing 21 to 100 external vendors face the highest levels of incident exposure. These vendors often use a fragmented mix of their own IT-centric tools, which can create visibility gaps, inconsistent audit trails, and increased operational risk. The danger often originates outside the plant floor, with 58% of OT incidents starting from compromises on the IT network that then move laterally into the industrial environment. This convergence of IT and OT networks has expanded the attack surface, turning IT vulnerabilities into direct threats to physical operations. State-sponsored threat actors are actively targeting this convergence, transitioning from simple reconnaissance to preparing for destructive attacks. Groups like VOLTZITE, linked to China's Volt Typhoon, have been observed compromising systems at electric utilities to pre-position themselves for potential future disruptions. This growing connectivity has led to a 332% increase in the number of unique, internet-exposed OT devices and services. Despite decades of security guidance recommending network isolation, one analysis found 40% of industrial organizations had vulnerable devices insecurely connected to the internet. In response, firms are moving toward unified, OT-specific remote access platforms that centralize visibility and strengthen vendor governance. These systems are designed to replace fragmented VPNs and vendor tools, providing a single point of control for monitoring all remote sessions and enforcing stricter, role-based access policies. The adoption of a unified security strategy across both IT and OT environments has been shown to yield significant results. Research has found that organizations deploying such integrated solutions achieved a 93% reduction in cyber incidents.