IDC Technology Spotlight – Building Operational Resilience with Secure Industrial Backbone

IT/OT convergence is the path to achieving operational resilience, but to do so requires a robust, secure, industrial network backbone that is evolving in capabilities and scale compared to the past. Combining purpose-built OT networking and cybersecurity is one path to ensuring success and avoiding unexpected roadblocks.

For many years, the primary objective of industrial enterprises was to become more efficient. Process automation, vertically integrated operational technology (OT) systems, and fixed processes enabled this efficiency through speed and repeatability.

Now, shifting market conditions and customer requirements, coupled with new technologies, are causing a shift to focus on adding resiliency – or the ability to predict and react to changes without disruption – to operations without sacrificing efficiency.

Technology is the main method enterprises are using to become more resilient, and integration of IT and OT systems is the method that they use to take advantage of technology capabilities inside operations, remotely, and in the cloud. This convergence has been accelerated dramatically by COVID-19, as companies look to deploy more remote and contactless processes and working models in their businesses. The need to build operational resilience has never been higher, and companies in turn are accelerating their convergence of IT and OT systems to achieve it.

According to IDC’s 2021 Future of Operations Survey, 34% of organizations are now monitoring and diagnosing almost all of their devices, equipment, assets, facilities, and processes remotely with limited onsite staff. When asked the same question about how they will work 3 years from now, 33.7% will work this way.

This shows that the new working models that have been required due to COVID-19 are here to stay, and the required digital capabilities to support them cannot be ignored by organizations. The shift in necessary capabilities and its impact is reflected in companies’ investment priorities.

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