OT (Operational Technology)
Hardware and software that monitors or controls physical processes, including industrial control systems, SCADA systems, PLCs, and RTUs. OT security requires different approaches than traditional IT security.
What is OT (Operational Technology)?
Hardware and software that monitors or controls physical processes, including industrial control systems, SCADA systems, PLCs, and RTUs. OT security requires different approaches than traditional IT security.
Operational Technology (OT) is a broad category encompassing the hardware, software, and systems used to monitor and control industrial equipment, assets, devices, and infrastructure. OT encompasses industrial control systems (ICS), SCADA systems, PLCs, RTUs, DCS platforms, HMIs, and the broader ecosystem of industrial sensors, actuators, and control networks. OT is distinct from IT in its fundamental purpose: where IT processes information, OT controls physical reality.
OT environments were built under assumptions that are fundamentally different from IT: isolation (not connected to external networks), reliability (uptime measured in years, not hours), and determinism (processes must be predictable and repeatable). Security was not a design consideration because connectivity was not assumed. This design legacy makes OT environments simultaneously difficult to secure and high-consequence when compromised.
The operational characteristics of OT create distinctive security requirements. Patching is impractical — industrial devices run validated firmware configurations that cannot be changed without extensive testing and operational risk. Availability is paramount — a security measure that introduces any probability of operational disruption is rejected. Network scanning is dangerous — active probes can crash PLCs and RTUs. These constraints require security approaches that are passive, non-intrusive, and operationally aware.
Key Facts
- OT environments control physical processes in 16 critical infrastructure sectors recognized by CISA
- The average OT device lifecycle is 15–25 years — far exceeding the 3–5 year cycle typical of IT hardware
- Over 90% of OT environments have at least one device running end-of-life software
- Nation-state OT attacks have caused documented physical damage in energy, manufacturing, and water sectors
How ORDR Addresses OT (Operational Technology)
ORDR provides comprehensive OT security through passive-first device discovery, protocol-aware deep packet inspection for industrial protocols, behavioral baselining, and non-intrusive threat detection. Every ORDR capability is designed to operate within OT operational constraints — no active probing of sensitive devices, no agent installation, no changes that could affect process availability.
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Protect your operational technology.
ORDR discovers and monitors every OT asset in real time—even legacy PLCs and SCADA systems that cannot run agents.