Critical Infrastructure Under Siege – Global Cybersecurity Battle for OT Systems
Operational Technology (OT) systems, which manage and control industrial processes in sectors such as energy, water, transportation, and manufacturing, have become increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyber threats. These systems control physical processes and are integral to the functioning of modern societies. However, the increasing convergence of OT with Information Technology (IT) systems, driven by the need for increased efficiency and real-time data analytics, has exposed these once-secure environments to a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. As the world becomes more interconnected, the security of OT systems is facing unprecedented challenges that require immediate attention on a global scale. Cyber adversaries are now able to exploit IT & OT convergence to gain access to OT environments, where they can disrupt critical processes, cause physical damage, or steal sensitive data. For example, the 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline in the United States highl...