OT Cybersecurity: What’s in a Name? Insights from Industry Professionals

In the evolving Operational Technology (OT) security landscape, terminology plays a crucial role in shaping discussions, policies, and implementations. While cybersecurity for industrial environments is well-recognized, professionals across industries often use different terms to describe it. To understand how the industry perceives and labels OT cybersecurity, I recently conducted a LinkedIn poll asking professionals:

Which terminology do you commonly use when referring to cybersecurity in Operational Technology (OT) environments?

Poll Results

? OT Cybersecurity – 64%

? Industrial Cybersecurity – 17%

? OT Security – 17%

? Industrial Security – 2%

Key Takeaways from the Poll

?? OT Cybersecurity Dominates the Conversation: Most professionals (64%) align with OT Cybersecurity, suggesting that the term best encapsulates security concerns within industrial and critical infrastructure environments.

?? Industrial Cybersecurity and OT Security Have Their Niche: Both terms secured 17% of the votes, likely reflecting industry-specific preferences. Industrial Cybersecurity is common in manufacturing environments, while OT Security is used where cybersecurity intersects with operational resilience.

?? Industrial Security is Less Common in Cyber Contexts: With only 2% of votes, this term is more associated with physical security than cybersecurity, reinforcing the shift towards digital threats in OT environments.

Industry Definitions: Security vs. Cybersecurity (ISA/IEC 62443 References)

The ISA/IEC 62443 standard, which governs Industrial Automation and Control System (IACS) security, defines security and cybersecurity as follows:(excerpts)

?? Security as per published ISA/IEC 62443-1-1:2009 (Clause 3.2.99) - Measures taken to protect a system. - The condition of system resources being free from unauthorized access, accidental changes, or destruction. - The capability of a system to ensure unauthorized persons cannot modify software, data, or system functions while allowing access to authorized users.

?? Cybersecurity (as per published ISA/IEC 62443-1-1: Clause 3.2.36):(excerpts) - Actions required to prevent unauthorized use, denial of service, modifications, disclosures, or destruction of critical systems or informational assets. - The primary goal is to reduce risks such as personal injury, public health threats, loss of consumer confidence, regulatory non-compliance, and business disruptions. - It applies to both standalone and networked systems in industrial production environments.

The Overlap with Functional Safety

Another key aspect of OT security discussions is functional safety, which ensures that industrial processes operate safely under both normal and abnormal conditions. ISA/IEC 62443 treats security and cybersecurity synonymously, covering functional safety risks within "security" but not necessarily within "cybersecurity".

IEC 62443: Originally for IACS, Now a Horizontal Standard

ISA/IEC 62443 was initially developed to secure Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS). However, its comprehensive risk-based approach has led to its adoption across multiple sectors, making it a horizontal standard rather than one limited to industrial environments.

Final Thoughts: Why Terminology Matters

The terminology we use influences how regulations, frameworks, and best practices evolve in the industry. As OT systems become increasingly connected and vulnerable to cyber threats, standardizing language can help streamline communication between stakeholders, including asset owners, system integrators, and cybersecurity professionals.

?? What are your thoughts? Do you use OT Cybersecurity, or do you prefer another term? Please drop your comments below, and let’s continue the conversation!

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Note-?All the comments and posts I share are my opinions and views and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or any affiliated organizations. Thank you for your support and understanding