BusinessCybersecurityNewswire

Executives Boost OT Cybersecurity with Proven Results

▼ Summary

– Corporations globally are increasingly integrating OT cybersecurity under CISOs or executives, with 52% now reporting CISO responsibility compared to 16% in 2022.
– OT security maturity is growing, with 26% of organizations achieving basic visibility and segmentation, up from 20% the previous year.
– More mature organizations experience fewer cyberattacks and handle lower-sophistication tactics better, though APTs and OT malware remain challenging.
– Adopting cybersecurity best practices, like threat intelligence and vendor consolidation, has reduced incidents, with 78% of organizations using only 1-4 OT vendors.
– Unified networking and security at remote OT sites led to a 93% reduction in cyber incidents compared to flat networks.

Business leaders are taking decisive action to strengthen operational technology (OT) cybersecurity, with measurable improvements in protection and reduced attack impacts. Recent findings reveal a dramatic shift in how organizations approach OT security, moving responsibility from technical teams to executive leadership.

The responsibility for OT security now sits firmly with C-level executives in most organizations. Over half (52%) of companies now place OT security under the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), a sharp rise from just 16% two years ago. When considering all executive roles, accountability reaches 95%. Even more telling, 80% of organizations plan to centralize OT cybersecurity under the CISO by 2025, up from 60% previously.

This leadership shift coincides with tangible progress in OT security maturity. Organizations reporting basic security controls, such as network visibility and segmentation, increased from 20% to 26% year-over-year. Most firms now operate at Level 2 maturity, focusing on access controls and profiling. Notably, those with higher maturity levels experience fewer successful attacks and demonstrate better resilience against low-sophistication threats like phishing.

The payoff for improved security practices is clear: operational disruptions affecting revenue dropped from 52% to 42%. While nearly half of organizations still face cyber incidents, the severity continues to decline. Advanced persistent threats (APTs) and OT-specific malware remain challenging, particularly for less mature organizations lacking detection capabilities.

Adopting cybersecurity best practices is driving measurable results. Basic cyber hygiene, employee training, and threat intelligence integration have significantly reduced risks like business email compromise. Vendor consolidation also signals growing maturity, 78% of organizations now work with just one to four OT vendors, streamlining security management.

Unified networking solutions at remote OT sites have proven particularly effective, cutting cyber incidents by 93% compared to traditional flat networks. This approach enhances visibility while minimizing vulnerabilities, reinforcing the value of integrated security strategies.

As executive oversight expands and security practices evolve, organizations are seeing real-world benefits, fewer disruptions, lower financial impacts, and stronger defenses against evolving threats. The data underscores that leadership commitment, combined with strategic security investments, delivers measurable protection for critical operational systems.

(Source: HelpNet Security)

Topics

ot cybersecurity integration under cisos 95% ot security maturity growth 90% impact cybersecurity best practices 85% vendor consolidation ot security 80% unified networking solutions at remote ot sites 75% reduction operational disruptions 70% challenges apts ot-specific malware 65% leadership commitment ot security 60%
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