OMG, OT!

Operational Technology – Welcome to industry 4.0

Everybody is talking about Operational Technology. OT here and industry 4.0 there. But what is OT, and why is it spearheading the fourth wave of the industry? To a child, one could explain it in such a way: “Operational Technology is like a gigantic toy that controls real machines. Imagine that you have an electric toy train, and you push buttons so that it either runs or stops. OT does the same thing, just in real life. It helps factories, trains or large machines to do exactly what they are supposed to do. It is like a magic helper that says “Hi” to machines and that lets them proceed with their tasks.”

Of course, there is no magic involved, although it may sometimes appear so! Generally speaking, OT can be understood as a nervous system that controls all relevant devices from a central control unit and that allows them to communicate with each other so that every part performs precisely in the designated manner. In industries, this technology is essential, and applications can be found in several different areas:

  • Factory automation:
    Robotic arms that build cars or that pack products are controlled by OT.
  • Energy supply:
    Systems that generate and distribute electric power in power plants are monitored and controlled by OT.
  • Water supply:
    Pumps and sensors that ensure that water pipes are working, and that clean water is provided.
  • Traffic management systems:
    Traffic lights or trains that are operated automatically to ensure a safe and efficient operation.
  • Building technology:
    Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) with automatic adjustment to conserve energy and to provide comfort.
  • Logistics:
    Automatic storage and conveying systems like in large distribution centers that move and sort goods.
  • Oil and gas industry:
    Systems that monitor drilling platforms or pipelines and that make sure that everything operates smoothly.
  • Mining:
    Large equipment such as excavators or conveyor belts are controlled by OT to provide a safe and efficient working environment.

“The future of the industry is there, where IT and OT meet and where they collectively create innovation.”

Harald Buzanich Sales Expert IT/OT

Continuity and security in OT systems

Wherever machines and devices need to be centrally controlled, OT takes care of stability. This sounds quite futuristic, but it is already an essential part of our industry that must be equally protected and maintained as conventional IT.

An OT environment is characterized by certain central properties that safeguard and efficiently shape your operation. Stability and reliability are essential as OT systems need to run continuously – a breakdown could have severe implications on the production or the infrastructure. At the same time, the focus lies on high security requirements as OT environments are very often a target of cyber-attacks such as ransomware attacks, which may create severe disruptions.

To minimize these risks, OT systems predominantly work in strict isolation of IT networks, which protects them from the usual threats of the IT world, and which ensures a maximum of operational safety.

“Most of our customers are not only preoccupied by digitalization, but also by standardization and compliance topics. We can support in this direction with our solutions in an effective and focused manner.”

Harald Buzanich Sales Expert IT/OT

NTS connects requirements relating to IT and OT systems to integrated, sustainable solutions that are especially matched to different sectors such as production, trade or healthcare. The security and visibility of OT infrastructures is substantially improved with innovative technologies such as Cisco CyberVision, Tenable OT and Fortinet solutions. Tailor-made solutions are developed by individual Proof of Concepts (PoCs), whilst a highly qualified team at NTS provides reliable support around-the-clock.