FORTINET - IT/OT Convergence in a Platform Era powered by AI

Introduction

Technical advancements are the driving force behind innovation, transforming the way every industry operates, including the shipping industry. Today's networks, endpoints, and systems, are more distributed and interconnected than ever before and also are connected in both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments,

However, according to research conducted by Forrester on behalf of Fortinet, a grim forecast for cybersecurity emerges from the divergence between the security teams in IT and OT environments.

Historically, IT and OT environments had different security concerns with different focal points, as OT was not part of the connected IT world. However, in our days, where the two worlds are technologically intertwined, security teams are operating in silos, failing to achieve true integration.

The Convergence of IT and OT: A Powerful Driver for Business Growth and Security

Looking at the convergence of these two worlds from a different perspective, we can see a new thread of exciting possibilities unfolding for businesses.

The ability to collect real-time production data introduces new avenues for timely and informed business decisions, while the understanding of this data achieved through IT/OT convergence fuels the development of new products, services, and optimized operations.

At the same time, the enhanced visibility achieved through the integration of IT and OT can be recognized as a key advantage, strengthening cyber threat prevention and mitigation, while enabling a smooth and rapid response to threats, reduces the spread of malware.

IT/OT convergence is a strategic investment with multiple benefits, driving business growth and fostering fertile ground for innovation, as teams collaborate to develop a comprehensive and undeniably strong security strategy.

Convergence with Obstacles

However, there are several challenges in integrating these worlds. We need to consider the different "tempo" that two worlds are operating, understanding that in OT environments, the systems have a longer lifecycle and use different protocols. Additionally, these systems operate in specific and unique environmental conditions, and for IT and OT teams to work effectively together, they need a specific way to connect their systems, following the recommended industry standards.

In addition, the two worlds have different priorities in the "CIA" triad in cybersecurity. In IT, confidentiality and integrity are more important than system availability. In contrast, in OT industry, availability and safety are top priorities.

As a result of these conflicting priorities and very different technologies, it is clear that there will be conflicts when different teams with different mindsets work together. The collaboration of these two teams and the creation of a harmonious workforce is not an easy task. However, it can be achieved if all stakeholders are willing to adopt a new way of thinking.

Converging two Worlds: Challenges and Solutions for Secure IT and OT Convergence

Any integration endeavor requires clear direction and collaboration from the outset. Goals should be jointly set among the different teams and designed to succeed. Strong leadership to ensure smooth collaboration between IT and OT teams is critical to prevent conflicts.

At the same time, integrating the two worlds also requires radical adjustments to cybersecurity systems. Collaboration tools such as SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) and SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation and Response) can help security teams respond quickly to threats, saving time and resources.

Also, considering that OT systems run in old operating system versions that have never been updated, it is important to monitor activity on both these systems and the network they reside on. OT threat reports by Fortinet indicate that threat actors target both IT and OT systems using the same malware, banking on the fact that OT systems often use older technology to ensure a higher success rate.

Effective management of an integrated and convergent IT and OT environment requires the adoption of Next Generation Firewall and Network Access Control tools, where in combination with the identification and protection of OT protocols, as offered by FortiGuard Labs, a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy based on the principles of zero-trust is achieved. Additionally, increased visibility is ensured while promoting centralized control of all security systems, thus enabling the management of even the most complex networks.

Fortinet's unified security platform, combined with its extended ecosystem, is designed to cover the extensive digital attack surface of the two worlds. At the same time, having pioneered for more than a decade in the research and use of Artificial Intelligence in the field of cybersecurity and fully recognizing the volume of information and the complexity of investigating security incidents, providing broad and unified security for every organization, Fortinet has adopted Artificial Intelligence at the heart of its Security Fabric platform, providing powerful "weapons" through which it can guide, simplify and automate Cybersecurity activities in a modern Converging IT/OT Environment.