IT-OT convergence technology trends drive innovation

Establishing a complete and effective OT security program is a complex endeavor that differs from typical cybersecurity strategies. Ultimately, the goal is to maximize uptime by enabling operators to take targeted action to reduce and, where possible, minimize security breaches in OT environments.

What are technology area(s) that represent potential solutions to IT-OT Convergence, and how are they contributing to both the importance of these initiatives and make an impact for industry?

Vivek Bhargava, Product Marketing Manager, Cisco

Historically, IT and OT teams have worked in separate domains with different priorities. But rapid digital operations transformation requires skills in networking and security that IT has perfected over decades in the enterprise space. OT, being more focused on safety, efficiency, and continuity, generally lacks these skills. For the organization to achieve positive outcomes, it is important the IT and OT teams collaborate and share their skills. While there are several cultural, communications, budget, and leadership challenges that must be addressed, technology can help bridge the gap between IT and OT by helping them build a common framework, share expertise, and develop trust. In my opinion, there are three technology areas that stand out that can help IT and OT collaborate better: network equipment, operations security, and machine-to-cloud communications.

Dr. Al Beydoun, ODVA President and Executive Director 5G is a technology that can help break down traditional barriers between IT and OT through connecting devices and their associated data with higher level systems, including the cloud, for analysis and action. Unlike previous generations of mobile technology, 5G is designed to move beyond simply connecting mobile/cellular phones. 5G now includes Quality of Service (QoS) for message prioritization, the ability to be used for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), and even real time control for automation. In fact, the 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation (5G-ACIA) is working to enable 5G for use in more and more industrial automation applications. Some of the potential quick wins for 5G in industrial applications include connectivity into discrete machines and process skids for 24/7 status and maintenance management purposes, direct sensor connectivity for vibration and temperature measurement, and machine control for remotely located process equipment. The ability to have constant remote access enables the population of operations dashboards with critical machine health information. This can make it much easier to see when an issue arises and this awareness can allow for quicker and therefore lower cost resolution. 5G connected applications include Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) that can carry components and finished goods around industrial operations and other standard automation applications on the plant floor such as tool changers. However, there are still challenges that remain to be solved regarding the high amount of electrical noise and reflections from metal equipment such as moving robot arms. Some potential solutions to undesired interference are Massive Multiple In Multiple Out (MIMO) that provide a large number of 5G antennas from a single base station and Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) that provides MIMO across multiple 5G base stations for greater coverage.

What specific technical benefits do these solutions provide, and how can it make a difference in implementing new levels of enterprise/automation integration?

Vivek Bhargava, Product Marketing Manager, Cisco Network equipment: Building modern OT networks starts with equipment that brings together the best of enterprise-grade and industrial-strength features which can be a catalyst for better IT-OT integration. Such devices provide the scale, flexibility, and performance perfected over decades by IT, but are hardened for harsh environments, equipped with support for industrial protocols, and offer extremely high availability. Cisco networking equipment even have essential services built in that further boost IT-OT collaboration such as visibility and secure remote access. IT can now gain OT’s trust and better help them with building, scaling, managing, and securing their network.

Operations security: With increased connectivity, OT can no longer ignore security threats or software vulnerabilities. Technology advances in visibility, segmentation, threat detection and remediation, that IT has been using, can be applied to OT too. Cisco