IT/OT Convergence speeds up the operating value of industry 4.0 as manufacturers
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As the industries continue to evolve in an always digital world, the convergence of information technologies (IT) and operational technologies (OT) becomes an important engine for innovation and efficiency. The concept of IT/OT convergence has long been recognized, but for many companies it has remained a vision more than a reality, in which many companies are confronted with obstacles to realize their potential.
Various challenges have contributed to this state of untouched potential over the years. These include the need for clarity who is responsible for the individual systems, a lack of the necessary skills to make projects A success and is struggling to guarantee the investment that is needed to provide IT/OT transformation with power. However, there is a shift going on.
New research commissioned by us and conducted by Omdia has shown that IT/OT convergence is accelerating for manufacturers. According to the study, 70% of the OT systems will be connected to IT networks next year, an increase of 50% today, in which 86% of manufacturers expect business benefits/OT convergence.
Worldwide head of production at Telstra International.
What are the drivers?
This is an important leap forward and in the forefront there is industry 4.0. Almost half (47%) of the respondents emphasized it as one of the top three factors that accelerate/OT convergence in the past two years. Manufacturers of company benefits targeting from industry 4.0 are innovation (39%), reliability (38%) and profitability (34%).
Industry 4.0 has also been discussed for a number of years, but many projects are not getting off the ground: the World Economic Forum has shown that more than 70% of the companies investing in industry 4.0 technologies do not go beyond the pilot phase of development.
That could change very well. Industry 4.0 needs critical technologies such as cloud servicesIndustrial Internet of Things (IIOT), Security platforms and Edge Computing to work. These are now well embedded in Enterprise, it stacks; This adulthood and the associated knowledge companies acquire the opportunities for the successful delivery of complex projects.
After industry 4.0, cyber security Freedom (38%) and increasing resilience and availability (34%) were the following most important factors. Fifteen -fifth of the production companies experienced a significant increase in total security incidents or infringements last year, with attacks that were aimed and influenced OT or activities that are more likely than vice versa.
What emphasizes the results is that an increase in digitization entails an increase in cyber risks. Manufacturers must transform digitally, and they know that this requires/OT convergence, but they must also reduce the risks of successful, disruptive attacks.
The use cases that the eye in it/ot
Interesting is that many manufacturers not only see the/OT as a security problem, but as a way to improve security. Almost half (49%) of the respondents ranked improved cyber and physical security as a top three use case for IT/OT in production, together with sharing data for deeper analyzes (44%) and better integration of the supply chain with production (36%).
How does it help to improve safety if it is also a potential source of threats? In many cases it offers the possibility to adopt a strategic security position; Instead of just connecting bits and OT, security can be integrated as part of a complete process of IT/OT transformation.
It is not surprising to see data exchange for deeper analyzes as an important use case; After all, one of the initial drivers of the IT/OT -Convergence Movement was the realization that OT could generate data with broader business implications. Connecting the two types of technology is a way to get data from silos and in analyzes that can change in useful insights.
Sharing the data from the energy consumption of a specific type of machines could, for example, offer the type of granularity that helps a purchasing team to negotiate more relevant energy sources instead of receiving a general figure from the operational department.
Moreover, there is the holy grail of efficiency: connecting production with supply chains. Continuous disruption, whether it is political, economic, weather or health, makes it increasingly difficult to serve both resilient and lean supply chains. Problems that influence important transport points, such as the Suez and Panama Canals, can blow holes in ‘Just in Time’ strategies, while ‘in case’ require approaches, which can be expensive.
Better integration between production and supply chains ensures faster, more accurate decision-making; If a supply chain suffers from disruption, a company can adjust the production accordingly and try to reduce the impact.
Steps to develop a sustainable and secure IT/OT strategy
To begin with, manufacturers who look at accelerating their convergence efforts must consider the following:
1. Planning for integration: IT/OT -Convergence is not only a case of adding a network to a factory and connecting with business systems; It needs a strategic business plan Tighten those objectives to intended actions.
2. Embedding security: A successful project will necessarily expand the attack surface, so security must be embedded in IT/OT transitions, not added as a side issue.
3. Investing in possibilities: Like each transformation project, IT/OT convergence needs the right teams, the right tools and the right level of resources.
4. Define accountability: One of the stumbling blocks is historically a lack of accountability and who is responsible for where. Determine where it is finished and the OT assignment starts, managed with every necessary overlap.
5. Determine standards: IT and OT are led by various administration, risks and compliance requirements. Determine the expected standards and implement continuous assessments to ensure that it is satisfied.
The future of production belongs to those who control safe, strategic IT/OT convergence. It is not just a technical upgrade – it is a competitive necessity that will determine who leads and who lags behind.
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This article was produced as part of the TechRadarpro expert insight channel, where today we have the best and smartest spirits in the technology industry. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarpro or Future PLC. If you are interested in contributing to find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-techradar-pro
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