Operational technology (OT) is a vital component of a functioning economy. It makes it possible for the world’s factories, energy production and transmission facilities, transportation networks, and utilities to function. Historically air gapped from the internet, OT systems now depend on information from IT systems and even public internet sites to effectively manage plant operations in real time.

But this improved agility comes at the cost of increased risk. While the biggest risk to an air-gapped OT system might come from software updates manually loaded from physical media, many of today’s OT systems face all the threats that IT systems face. In addition, the attack surface for an OT system often includes Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices in remote locations, such as sensors attached to pipelines and water mains.

To explore the state of cybersecurity in operational environments, Fortinet surveyed manufacturing and plant operations leaders across manufacturing, energy and utilities, healthcare and transportation. As OT leaders fulfill their roles in cybersecurity, many are challenged by a lack of core protections; struggles with security measurements and analysis; and significant intrusions having a growing impact on their organizations. Get the report to see how you compare.