Strengthening OT Cybersecurity in the Age of Industry 4.0

Global cybercrime is expected to escalate by 15% annually over the next five years, reaching a staggering $10.5 trillion per year by 2025. Operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems are major targets for cyber threats. A cyber attack on an OT system can shut down production, resulting in significant downtime and financial losses potentially amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. That’s why IT leaders are tasked with strengthening their organization’s OT cybersecurity posture.

Historically, OT systems have not been considered significant threats due to their perceived isolation from the Internet. Organizations relied on physical security measures, such as door locks, access codes and badge readers, to protect against hands-on access and disruption of physical operational processes. However, the advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, has introduced smart technologies and advanced software to optimize efficiency through automation and data analytics. This digital transformation has connected OT and IT systems, creating new attack vectors that allow adversaries to exploit and access sensitive data.