What Is OT Security (Operational Technology Security)?

OT Security is the discipline of protecting operational technology: the industrial control systems, SCADA platforms, PLCs, distributed control systems, safety instrumented systems, and connected field devices that monitor and control physical processes. Where IT security prioritizes confidentiality, OT security prioritizes availability and safety, because a failed controller can halt production or endanger people.

It applies to any organization that runs physical processes: electric and water utilities, manufacturers, oil and gas operators, pharmaceutical producers, transportation systems, and building and data center operators. OT environments carry constraints IT teams rarely face: assets with 15 to 30 year lifespans, legacy protocols with no authentication, narrow maintenance windows that limit patching, and vendor dependencies for even routine system changes.

The practical starting point is visibility and segmentation: an accurate asset inventory, a defensible boundary between IT and OT networks, monitored conduits between zones, and controlled remote access for vendors. Regulatory pressure is rising through NERC CIP for utilities, TSA security directives for pipelines, and IEC 62443 adoption in industrial procurement, so OT security is shifting from a niche engineering concern to a board-level obligation. For a fuller primer, see What is OT security.