Revolutionizing Operational Technology Security: Fujitsu’s Vision and Portfolio

Cybersecurity has become a critical necessity in today’s increasingly interconnected industrial landscape. Operational Technology (OT), the backbone of critical industries such as manufacturing, utilities, and transportation, faces unprecedented threats. Fujitsu’s recent briefing to PAC on its OT security portfolio demonstrated its commitment to addressing these challenges with an innovative and comprehensive approach.

The Growing Importance of OT Security

Operational technology (OT) plays a pivotal role in the physical operations of numerous industries, including robotics and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. While OT has become increasingly crucial, its cybersecurity measures often fall behind those of information technology (IT). This discrepancy creates vulnerabilities that could disrupt public safety, supply chains, and production.

Fujitsu highlighted the inherent risks associated with this domain. OT environments are becoming high-value targets for cyber actors due to their crucial role in value creation. Threats range from operational downtime to significant data breaches, underscoring the importance of robust security measures. Furthermore, regulatory landscapes such as the EU’s NIS2 directive and the U.S. CIRCIA emphasize compliance, placing additional pressure on organizations to fortify their OT systems.

Fujitsu’s OT Security Portfolio

Fujitsu’s OT security services combine the latest technology with practical applications to protect industrial environments. Their strategy is based on three key pillars: assessment, transformation, and continuous monitoring.

1. OT Cyber Assessment: Fujitsu’s initial step is to evaluate an organization’s risk profile, identify OT assets, and provide actionable recommendations. This service ensures visibility into vulnerabilities and clarifies the current security posture.
2. OT Transformation: Fujitsu enables organizations to establish a secure operational foundation by leveraging IT/OT segregation, secure remote access, identity management, and cyber awareness training. A robust configuration management database (CMDB) supports better asset governance.
3. OT Managed Monitoring: Continuous monitoring is the foundation of Fujitsu’s proactive security approach. With 24/7 monitoring services, contextualized alerts, and compliance-oriented reporting, Fujitsu provides peace of mind for enterprises. Their managed detection and response (MDR) capabilities and asset discovery integrations like ServiceNow ensure that organizations remain vigilant against evolving threats.

These offerings are enhanced by advanced tools such as firewalls, secure remote access protocols, and vulnerability management systems, all tailored for OT environments. Fujitsu’s services are designed to provide scalable, globally consistent solutions, leveraging their partnership ecosystem to deliver industry-leading security practices.

Real-World Impact

Fujitsu’s briefing highlighted several success stories that demonstrate the effectiveness of their OT security solutions. For instance, a water and sewerage services company aims to save 2,000 personnel hours annually through reduced maintenance travel and audit costs while achieving compliance with strict regulatory standards. Another client, a global packaging supplier, gained end-to-end visibility into OT assets across 30 factories, addressing vulnerabilities and reducing exposure by 30%.

Analyzing Shortcomings

While Fujitsu’s OT security portfolio is robust and effective, some areas require further attention to maintain competitiveness and effectiveness:

• Integration Challenges: Many organizations operate in diverse environments with legacy systems. Integrating modern security solutions seamlessly into such ecosystems requires careful planning and flexibility. Of course, Fujitsu can run such projects, but some manpower is still needed on the customer side.
• Skills Gap: There is a global shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. While Fujitsu provides training and support, a stronger emphasis on workforce enablement and automation could more effectively address this gap, in addition to professional services.
• Global Scalability vs. Local Customization: Balancing standardized global solutions with the need for region-specific customization remains a persistent issue, particularly for organizations operating in heavily regulated markets.

Conclusion

Fujitsu’s OT-security portfolio marks a significant advance in protecting vital industrial operations. By addressing visibility, compliance, and proactive threat management, Fujitsu enables businesses to pursue sustainable transformations with confidence. To maintain its position as one of the leaders in the field, Fujitsu must continuously refine its solutions to overcome deployment complexities, integration barriers, and skills shortages.

The future of OT security will be shaped by adaptability, collaboration, and innovation—areas where Fujitsu is well-positioned to make a lasting impact.