Implementing Zero Trust in Operational Technology (OT) Environments

This brief explains how Zero Trust — an application- and data-centric security model emphasizing strong authentication, least privilege, contextual access, encryption, and continuous monitoring — contrasts with legacy OT environments that rely on inherent trust. It notes that while Zero Trust doesn’t map perfectly to OT, several Zero Trust concepts align with the SANS ICS 5 Critical Controls and can be adapted to strengthen OT cybersecurity, and it promotes a downloadable guide for further guidance.