The article also provides tips for securely bridging IT and OT, including dealing with legacy OT systems, tracking all commands and data access in OT environments, and addressing cultural and process differences between IT and OT departments. Durand concludes that secure integration of IT and OT is a strategic imperative for any forward-looking enterprise in the digital age, enabling industries to harness the full potential of AI to drive unprecedented efficiencies and improvements.
Key takeaways:
- Integration of IT and OT is crucial for organizations aiming to harness AI for improved efficiency and sustainability, but it presents significant security risks.
- Advanced IoT protocols can provide security without compromising speed and flexibility, making them a strategic imperative for forward-looking enterprises.
- Challenges in integrating IT and OT include compatibility issues with legacy OT systems, potential data bottlenecks from tracking all commands and data access, and cultural and process differences between IT and OT departments.
- These challenges can be overcome with strategies such as a phased approach to upgrading legacy systems, using AI-driven analytics to prioritize security events, and developing a unified governance structure that aligns IT and OT priorities.