How AI Tackles Security Challenges in IT/OT Integration: Cisco

Cybersecurity issues are troubling organizations that aim to integrate operational technology (OT) systems with their enterprise IT frameworks. AI-based security products are expected to revolutionize industrial networking, but this transition will take time, according to a new study from Cisco.

The 2024 State of Industrial Networking Report was conducted with Sapio Research and surveyed 1,000 industry professionals across 17 countries. Cisco reports that top concerns for large OT organizations include cybersecurity challenges and the increasing use of AI technologies.

The industrial landscape is undergoing significant transformation, and OT networks are converging with their enterprise IT counterparts, according to Keith Higgins, head of the product and digital marketing teams for Cisco’s industrial IoT portfolio. Merging OT data with IT systems, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution systems (MES), can provide a complete view of a production process and simplify the management of OT networks. However, this convergence also creates a complex and dynamic environment that can increase an organization’s vulnerability exposure.

“The report highlights a growing concern for OT cybersecurity across all industries. Industrial networks, which were traditionally isolated from the outside world, are now increasingly connected, making them susceptible to cyberattacks. A backlog of legacy systems and assets, an expanding attack surface, and an overstretched workforce compound the issue,” Higgins wrote in a blog about the study.

The main problems companies face are vulnerabilities in legacy systems and outdated software (cited by 41%), and malware or ransomware attacks specifically targeting operational technology (40%), the study found.

Cybersecurity risks are the biggest internal barrier to growth of industrial networks, according to survey respondents. “A significant portion of respondents (89%) cited cybersecurity compliance as very or extremely important. This reflects the global need for robust security solutions specifically designed for the unique needs of industrial environments,” Higgins wrote.

Another major challenge for organizations running industrial infrastructure is dealing with AI, which has the potential to transform industrial networking.

Nearly half (48%) of respondents cited AI as the emerging technology that will have the most significant impact on industrial networking over the next five years. For example, 49% of respondents anticipate better network management across both IT and OT utilizing AI tools, and 46% expect AI to improve collaboration between OT and IT teams.

“AI is poised to play a transformative role in industrial networking, with the ability to automate tasks, improve network performance, and predict potential issues before they disrupt operations,” Higgins wrote. “Participants further stated that AI in industrial networking would be a spending priority in the same time period, which further indicates the urgency to prepare operational networks for the highest value AI use cases.”

AI might also be a double-edged sword, however. While AI offers OT benefits such as process optimization and threat detection, bad actors are also using adversarial AI techniques to turn the technology against firms, Higgins noted.

Some other notable items from the report:

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