Secure Networking for OT: From Fragile Networks to Sustainable Security

OT networks are a prime target for cyberattacks, while many industrial environments still rely on flat networks, legacy serial connectivity, and aging infrastructure that cannot easily be replaced. At the same time, organizations face increasing pressure to comply with European regulatory requirements such as NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act without risking costly downtime. ​​

In our recent webinar, we explored how organizations can strengthen OT cybersecurity step by step without disrupting critical operations. Through practical, real-world scenarios, we addressed challenges including fragile networks, time-critical traffic, trust boundaries, serial connectivity, safety systems, and long system lifecycles, while demonstrating how defense-in-depth strategies can be implemented in a predictable, controllable, and sustainable way.​

Key Takeaways

• Strengthen OT Network Resilience: Apply defense-in-depth without compromising availability.​
• Secure Critical OT Connectivity: Protect time-sensitive traffic, serial devices, and safety boundaries.​
• Support Compliance and Lifecycle Security: Address evolving European regulatory requirements.​
• Implement Security Safely: Integrate security progressively without disrupting operations.​

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) aims to increase productivity and make users lives easier. However, this can only be achieved when the Industrial IoT environment has reliable network connectivity. An unreliable network presents users with several challenges including: longer system downtime, cyber security risks, and unstable operations, especially when using a wireless connection. The diagram below uses factory automation as an example to illustrate what kind of concerns our industry partners face when trying to adopt lndustrial loT applications and benefit from them.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) aims to increase productivity and make users lives easier. However, this can only be achieved when the Industrial IoT environment has reliable network connectivity. An unreliable network presents users with several challenges including: longer system downtime, cyber security risks, and unstable operations, especially when using a wireless connection. The diagram below uses factory automation as an example to illustrate what kind of concerns our industry partners face when trying to adopt lndustrial loT applications and benefit from them.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) aims to increase productivity and make users lives easier. However, this can only be achieved when the Industrial IoT environment has reliable network connectivity. An unreliable network presents users with several challenges including: longer system downtime, cyber security risks, and unstable operations, especially when using a wireless connection. The diagram below uses factory automation as an example to illustrate what kind of concerns our industry partners face when trying to adopt lndustrial loT applications and benefit from them.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) aims to increase productivity and make users lives easier. However, this can only be achieved when the Industrial IoT environment has reliable network connectivity. An unreliable network presents users with several challenges including: longer system downtime, cyber security risks, and unstable operations, especially when using a wireless connection. The diagram below uses factory automation as an example to illustrate what kind of concerns our industry partners face when trying to adopt lndustrial loT applications and benefit from them.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) aims to increase productivity and make users lives easier. However, this can only be achieved when the Industrial IoT environment has reliable network connectivity. An unreliable network presents users with several challenges including: longer system downtime, cyber security risks, and unstable operations, especially when using a wireless connection. The diagram below uses factory automation as an example to illustrate what kind of concerns our industry partners face when trying to adopt lndustrial loT applications and benefit from them.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) aims to increase productivity and make users lives easier. However, this can only be achieved when the Industrial IoT environment has reliable network connectivity. An unreliable network presents users with several challenges including: longer system downtime, cyber security risks, and unstable operations, especially when using a wireless connection. The diagram below uses factory automation as an example to illustrate what kind of concerns our industry partners face when trying to adopt lndustrial loT applications and benefit from them.