Emerging Risks Require IT/OT Collaboration to Secure Physical Systems

This article discusses the growing risk of cyber-physical attacks as IT and operational technology (OT) environments converge, emphasizing that air gaps are often ineffective, and that coordination between IT and OT professionals is essential to protect safety, availability, and operations. It outlines cultural and lifecycle differences between IT and OT, raises concerns about increased automation and cloud-based third-party monitoring expanding attack surfaces, and calls for greater education, policy review, and collaboration to reduce risk.