Securing Operational Technology (OT): A Strategic Necessity in a Connected World

In today’s highly interconnected industrial environment, securing operational technology (OT) is paramount to organizational resilience. The growth in digital infrastructure and the convergence of physical systems with IT networks have increased the potential impact of cyber threats on OT systems. This article explores the importance of OT security and the integration of IT and OT and outlines available open-source and proprietary tools. It also provides an overview of the internal competencies needed, service providers across regions, and the relevant compliance frameworks.

OT systems are critical to functioning essential sectors, such as energy, transportation, water, and manufacturing. These systems often rely on legacy technologies that were not originally designed with cybersecurity in mind. Given their role in ensuring safety and availability, protecting OT environments requires tailored strategies that account for their specific operational constraints.

The Convergence of IT and OT Security

OT and IT have traditionally functioned as distinct entities. However, industrial systems are increasingly connected to IT networks in pursuit of efficiency, predictive maintenance, and analytics. Consequently, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are no longer isolated from other systems but integrated with enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms and cloud-based dashboards.

This convergence brings both opportunity and risk. On the one hand, integrating data-driven insights can optimize operations and reduce downtime. However, this increased connectivity also introduces traditional IT vulnerabilities into the OT realm. NotPetya and TRITON have demonstrated the real-world consequences of such integration gone wrong.

A unified approach is essential to address these challenges, encompassing shared visibility, integrated threat detection, and a consistent policy framework. Tools and teams must work across both domains, leading us to consider technically robust and economically feasible solutions.

Open Source vs. Proprietary OT Security: Who Should Choose What?

The decision between open-source and proprietary OT security solutions depends on several organizational factors, including technical capability, budget, industry, and risk posture. The following is a detailed breakdown to assist in this decision-making process:

Open Source Solutions Are Best Suited For:

• Organizations with strong in-house technical expertise. Outs open-source can provide powerful, customizable tools if the user team includes skilled Linux admins, network engineers, and cybersecurity professionals.
• Budget-constrained entities. Smaller utilities, municipal plants, or research institutions may find open-source tools financially viable.
• Industries with non-critical or test environments. Organizations using open-source tools for simulation, training, or lab setups benefit from flexibility and control.
• Organizations seeking transparency. Open-source codebases allow security teams to audit and modify tools for specific needs.

However, challenges include ongoing maintenance, limited formal support, and a steeper learning curve.

Proprietary Solutions Are Ideal For:

• Large enterprises and critical infrastructure providers. These organizations often require scalable, supported, regulatory-compliant tools with a defined roadmap and SLAs.
• Teams lacking cybersecurity depth. Vendors of proprietary solutions typically offer implementation, training, and long-term support.
• High-compliance industries. Sectors like nuclear energy, aviation, or finance often prefer certified, vendor-supported solutions that align with international standards.
• Organizations needing rapid deployment. Proprietary tools offer out-of-the-box functionality and integrations, reducing time-to-value.

The trade-off includes higher costs, possible vendor lock-in, and less customization than open-source tools.

Internal Skills Required for Open Source OT Security Implementation

Open-source tools offer affordability but demand a skilled workforce. Organizations must either invest in internal capabilities or seek external expertise. Key competencies include:

• Industrial Networking: Deep understanding of ICS protocols (Modbus, Profibus, DNP3, OPC UA, etc.) and network topologies
• Cybersecurity Expertise: Intrusion detection, risk assessments, forensics, and response planning
• Linux and Systems Administration: Most open-source tools are Linux-native and require command-line proficiency
• Automation & Scripting: Python, Bash, and other scripting languages are essential for customizing and maintaining tools
• Compliance and Risk Management: Professionals need to align operations with standards like IEC 62443 and NIS2

Upskilling programs like SANS ICS, GIAC-GICSP, and ISA/IEC 62443 certification are increasingly essential.

Key Open Source Solutions for OT Security

With budgets tightening across industries, open-source tools offer powerful capabilities without vendor lock-in. Below is a deeper look at some of the most effective open-source tools for OT cybersecurity:

• Snort/Suricata
  • Profile: Snort and Suricata are open-source intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) capable of inspecting real-time network traffic. They are widely used in IT and adaptable for OT networks with proper configuration.
  • Strengths: Real-time packet inspection, strong community, customizable rulesets
  • Weaknesses: High noise levels without proper tuning, no OT protocol specificity out-of-the-box
• Zeek (formerly Bro)
  • Profile: Zeek is a powerful network analysis framework that monitors and logs traffic for security insights. It’s powerful in uncovering lateral movements in hybrid IT/OT networks.
  • Strengths: Deep visibility, strong for forensic analysis, highly customizable
  • Weaknesses: Requires domain expertise; performance may vary in high-throughput environments
• Security Onion
  • Profile: A Linux distribution built for network security monitoring. Bundles tools like Zeek, Suricata, Wazuh, and Elasticsearch for complete threat detection and response capability.
  • Strengths: Comprehensive toolset, strong community, supports advanced threat hunting
  • Weaknesses: Steep learning curve, high resource requirements
• Wazuh
  • Profile: A scalable, open-source security monitoring platform that provides log data analysis, intrusion detection, and compliance monitoring.
  • Strengths: Strong compliance features, integration with Elastic Stack, active development
  • Weaknesses: Complex setup requires tuning and scripting knowledge
• OpenPLC
  • Profile: The first open-source industrial controller, OpenPLC, is used for training, research, and testing industrial automation systems.
  • Strengths: Great for simulation and educational use, open and customizable
  • Weaknesses: Not intended for use in live production environments, limited support
• GRR Rapid Response
  • Profile: Developed by Google, GRR is a tool for remote live forensics that is useful in investigating threats across distributed IT/OT assets.
  • Strengths: Large-scale remote investigations, flexible scripting support
  • Weaknesses: Complex deployment, heavy infrastructure requirements
• Cuckoo Sandbox
  • Profile: Cuckoo allows users to run and analyze malware in an isolated environment critical for investigating targeted ICS attacks.
  • Strengths: Comprehensive malware behavior analysis, community plugins
  • Weaknesses: Not real-time, requires substantial system resources
• ICSref
  • Profile: A reverse engineering framework for industrial control firmware and binaries. Tailored for ICS-specific analysis.
  • Strengths: Niche focus on OT binaries, helpful for in-depth vulnerability research
  • Weaknesses: Limited use cases, steep learning curve, sparse documentation

Proprietary OT Security Solutions

While open-source tools offer flexibility and affordability, many organizations opt for proprietary solutions that provide out-of-the-box functionality, professional support, and deep integration with enterprise systems. Here are some of the leading proprietary OT security solutions:

• Claroty
  • Profile: Specializes in visibility, threat detection, and risk management for OT, IoT, and IIoT environments.
  • Strengths: Rich OT protocol support, seamless IT/OT integration, intuitive dashboards
  • Weaknesses: High cost, may require consulting for deployment
• Fortinet (FortiNAC, FortiSIEM)
  • Profile: Offers network access control and SIEM capabilities tailored for OT and converged environments.
  • Strengths: Scalable, strong support network, unified threat management
  • Weaknesses: Less OT-specialized compared to niche vendors, complex licensing
• Palo Alto Networks (IoT Security)
  • Profile: Uses machine learning to identify and secure OT/IoT devices on enterprise networks.
  • Strengths: AI-driven visibility, integration with Prisma and Cortex platforms
  • Weaknesses: Heavily cloud-dependent, evolving OT-specific features
• Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity
  • Profile: Offers endpoint protection and anomaly detection explicitly designed for industrial environments.
  • Strengths: ICS-focused antivirus and monitoring, SCADA compatibility
  • Weaknesses: Limited North American adoption due to geopolitical concerns
• Indegy (Now Tenable OT)
  • Profile: Focuses on asset tracking, vulnerability detection, and configuration monitoring for industrial networks.
  • Strengths: Real-time device visibility, integration with IT vulnerability platforms
  • Weaknesses: Mid-tier analytics, overlapping capabilities with IT tools
• Nozomi Networks (USA):
  • Profile: Offers real-time visibility into OT networks using AI/ML. Strong in energy, transportation, and manufacturing sectors.
  • Strengths: Intuitive interface, AI-driven detection, scalable platform
  • Weaknesses: Requires network tapping or mirroring, expensive for smaller deployments
• Rockwell Automation (USA):
  • Profile: A leading industrial automation provider that embeds cybersecurity into its hardware and software control platforms.
  • Strengths: Deep hardware integration, strong in manufacturing verticals
  • Weaknesses: Proprietary ecosystem, vendor lock-in concerns
• Hitachi Systems (Japan):
  • Profile: Offers comprehensive IT/OT cybersecurity integration for critical infrastructure, focusing strongly on the Japanese industrial base.
  • Strengths: Strong local support, full-stack IT/OT integration
  • Weaknesses: Limited brand recognition outside Japan, slower international rollout

Service Providers Supporting Proprietary Solutions

Organizations seeking to deploy and manage proprietary OT solutions rely on managed security service providers (MSSPs) or technology partners with certified expertise.

Europe

• Capgemini (France):
  • Strengths: Large consulting workforce, experience with Claroty, Fortinet, and Palo Alto deployments
  • Weaknesses: May favor large enterprises, slower engagement in niche verticals
• Siemens Digital Industries (Germany):
  • Strengths: Offers industrial automation and integrated OT/ICS cybersecurity services, strong in SCADA protection
  • Weaknesses: Proprietary focus, limited integration with third-party tools
• Sopra Steria (France):
  • Strengths: Strong in digital transformation projects, including OT security, supports Palo Alto and Fortinet, Especially in France: Large consulting workforce, experience with Claroty, Fortinet, and Palo Alto deployments
  • Weaknesses: Generalist in consulting, less presence outside Western Europe. Weaknesses: May favor large enterprises, slower engagement in niche verticals
• Orange Cyberdefense (France):
  • Strengths: Deep threat intelligence, managed SOC services with OT capabilities
  • Weaknesses: Primarily focused on French-speaking markets
• Airbus, Schneider Electric, Dassault, Framatome…..: Like Siemens AG, many pure Industrial / OT players are willing to develop their Cybersecurity offerings to neighboring clients. Strengths: Deep industrial ICS & OT knowledge. Weaknesses: variable coverage of Cybersecurity needs (Consulting + Managed Services) 
   

North America

• Accenture (USA):
  • Strengths: End-to-end security architecture consulting, strong alliances with Fortinet, Palo Alto, and Clarity
  • Weaknesses: High consulting rates, slower implementation pace for small projects
• IBM Security (USA):
  • Strengths: Integrated security services for IT/OT, strong presence in industrial control system sectors
  • Weaknesses: Complex offerings may require multi-phase deployments
• Lumen Technologies (USA):
  • Strengths: Managed detection and response for proprietary platforms, network-centric threat visibility
  • Weaknesses: Less customizable, geared toward existing network customers
• Deloitte Cyber Risk (USA):
  • Strengths: Global compliance support, system integration for large-scale OT networks
  • Weaknesses: Enterprise-focused, limited cost flexibility

Asia

• Fujitsu (Japan):
  • Strengths: Integration of proprietary platforms with local OT systems, cloud-native options for industrial IoT
  • Weaknesses: Limited penetration outside Japan
• Hitachi Vantara (Japan):
  • Strengths: Combines industrial hardware with cybersecurity controls, aligns well with Claroty and Fortinet ecosystems
  • Weaknesses: Focused on large enterprises, less agile in smaller project delivery
• Infosys (India):
  • Strengths: Global delivery model for OT/IT convergence, partnerships with Palo Alto and Kaspersky
  • Weaknesses: May lack deep domain expertise in specialized OT segments 
• NTT Data (Japan):
  • Strengths: Supports multiple proprietary ecosystems, advanced analytics for smart factories
  • Weaknesses: Complex service catalogs, customization delays

These proprietary tools and their affiliated service providers offer accelerated deployment, vendor-backed support, and pre-configured compliance capabilities. However, they typically come at a premium, requiring thoughtful budget allocation and strategic vendor selection.

Legislation and Compliance Standards

Europe

• NIS2 Directive (2023): Enhances baseline cybersecurity requirements for essential services and introduces fines for non-compliance
• IEC 62443: Widely adopted standard for ICS/OT security lifecycle, from risk assessments to system hardening
• GDPR (where applicable): Personal data processed in industrial environments (e.g., smart meters) must comply

North America

• NERC CIP (Critical Infrastructure Protection): Mandatory for operators in the energy sector in the US and Canada
• CISA Frameworks (USA): Offers voluntary guidelines but increasingly aligned with critical infrastructure compliance
• ISA/IEC 62443: Endorsed by NIST and used in cross-sector evaluations

Asia

• China’s Cybersecurity Law: Emphasizes data sovereignty and mandates strong controls for Critical Information Infrastructure (CII)
• Japan’s Basic Act on Cybersecurity: Requires continuous monitoring and improvement of OT systems
• Singapore’s Cybersecurity Act: Applies licensing and control requirements for CII sectors
   

Conclusion

Securing OT environments is increasingly essential for maintaining operational continuity and compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks. The convergence of IT and OT brings opportunities for efficiency and visibility alongside challenges that require well-coordinated, context-aware cybersecurity practices.

Depending on organizational needs, resources, and maturity levels, both open-source and proprietary solutions can be effective. Open-source tools offer flexibility and cost efficiency, mainly when supported by skilled internal teams or external partners. Proprietary solutions provide streamlined deployment, integrated support, and advanced features that may align with high-compliance or complex environments.

Organizations that take proactive steps to understand and address their unique OT security requirements will be better positioned to adapt to future risks and regulatory expectations. A balanced investment in technology, expertise, and partnerships forms the foundation of a sustainable and secure OT strategy.