A New Era for Operational Technology

From advanced manufacturing lines to utilities, energy grids, oil & gas platforms, and critical infrastructure, industrial environments are no longer isolated. Industrial control systems (ICS) that were traditionally air-gapped now connect deeply with enterprise IT, cloud analytics, and AI platforms. The benefits to the organization can be huge as the IT/OT convergence enables real-time visibility, agility, and productivity gains. And, it dramatically expands the cyberattack surface, putting safety, uptime, and revenue at risk.

The Rockwell Automation 2025 State of Smart Manufacturing Report shows how urgent this shift has become. Note that most of their data comes from surveying manufacturers.

• Cybersecurity has surged to the #2 external risk for industrial organizations, behind only supply chain disruption
• 49% plan to use AI/ML for cybersecurity in the next 12 months, up 40% from a year previous
• 38% already leverage operational data for cyber protection, while 37% use it to monitor supply chain risk

These trends aren’t unique to factories; they reflect what we hear from clients across energy, utilities, oil & gas, water/wastewater, and transportation: Cyber resilience is now a boardroom issue.

Is ICS/OT Harder to Secure?

It can be, and protecting OT is fundamentally different from IT because it involves physical processes and safety-critical systems. Downtime or compromise can lead to blackouts, plant shutdowns, environmental hazards, or massive financial loss. 

No matter the sector, you should be aware of and take action on these key challenges:

• Legacy systems running outdated firmware with little native security
• Flat networks built for speed and reliability, not segmentation or zero trust
• Long asset lifecycles make patching difficult and expensive
• AI and automation introduce new pathways for attackers while organizations chase efficiency

A purely IT-centric approach leaves gaps that can be exploited. Hence, a modernized approach is what we at Koniag Cyber recommend.

An Integrated Model for OT Cyber Resilience

OT ecosystems can be secure and enable innovation. The most effective strategy follows three pillars:

1. Assessment & Prevention
   
   • Conduct end-to-end OT/ICS cyber assessments aligned with NIST 800-82, CMMC, and sector-specific standards (e.g., NERC CIP for energy, ISA/IEC 62443 for industrial automation)
   • Map IT/OT convergence points, identify vulnerable assets, and quantify operational risk
2. Detection & Response
   
   • Deploy OT-aware Managed Detection & Response (MDR) tuned to industrial protocols (Modbus, DNP3, Profinet, OPC UA)
   • Use AI/ML-driven anomaly detection to flag abnormal device behavior before it impacts production or safety
   • Integrate incident response plans that consider physical process impacts, not just data breaches
3. Secure Technology Integration
   
   • Architect segmented networks, zero-trust remote access, and secure edge-to-cloud connectivity
   • Integrate industrial firewalls, secure gateways, and hardened endpoints designed for OT
   • Align all technology decisions with resilience, safety, and compliance ROI

This integrated approach—assess → harden → monitor → equip—helps industrial operators move from reactive patching to proactive cyber resilience.

The Powerful and Double-Edged Reality of AI

AI is now both a tool and a target. Organizations plan to use AI/ML for threat detection and response, and adversaries are weaponizing AI to craft advanced exploits and automate attacks. You must adopt “secure AI” practices: validating training data, monitoring for model drift, and embedding AI into architectures hardened against manipulation. 

The above information might feel overwhelming, so let’s discuss how we would begin if we were in your shoes.

A Focused Place to Begin and Grow into Cyber Resiliency

If you are: 

• Expanding smart manufacturing or digital utility infrastructure
• Operating energy or oil & gas assets connected to corporate IT/cloud
• Facing ransomware, supply chain, or regulatory pressure

… then it’s time to make OT cyber resilience the foundation of your digital strategy. 

Start with a comprehensive OT/ICS cyber gap assessment to identify your critical assets, operational choke points, and compliance gaps. Then build a roadmap that unites technology, people, and process. This is your foundation to build soundly into the future. Spend time here upfront, get this right, and lean into this foundation as you scale.

The Bottom Line on Securing the Industrial Edge

Whether you run a factory, refinery, power grid, or water system, the future is data-driven, AI-enabled, and hyperconnected. Next-gen connectivity fuels efficiency and innovation, and it must be protected so you can capitalize on its promise.

If you harden OT now, you will benefit by operating safer, responding faster, and earning greater trust across your supply chain and stakeholders, delivering a critical advantage in your market.

A First Action You Can Take

Koniag Cyber partners with industrial operators, including manufacturing, utilities, energy, oil & gas, and other critical infrastructure, to secure OT/ICS environments, safely integrate AI, and meet regulatory frameworks without slowing innovation.

Schedule an OT Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment with Koniag Cyber to uncover your vulnerabilities, strengthen your architecture, and enable safe, sustainable growth.