Defining xOT: What Is Extended Operational Technology?

Dragos introduces "Extended Operational Technology (xOT)" as a new framing for the operational environment, asserting that any system which can influence a control loop — from HMIs and IIoT to analytics and building automation — must be inventoried, monitored, and protected. The paper highlights gaps in how organizations classify and secure OT-adjacent systems, warns that AI and automated adversary capabilities compress the time from IT compromise to OT targeting, and notes the acquisition of Phosphorus to bolster visibility and protection.