Do We Really Need IT-OT Integration?

[rbc]

One team quotes Shakespeare. The other speaks in Morse Code. Now, imagine forcing them to write a play together. Yet IT and OT organizations are being asked to work as one. Is full integration really possible, or should we keep them at respectful distance for security reasons?

In a modern industrial setting, each technical team has different priorities. One team prioritizes uptime and physical safety; the other, data integrity and cyber hygiene. One operates systems that must never go down; the other moves fast, updates faster. Yet, under the banner of digital transformation and IT-OT convergence, IT and OT teams are not just being asked to collaborate, but unify. On paper, it sounds like a logical evolution. In practice, it could be a recipe for friction and operational chaos.

The two organizations need a "bridge and not a merger," said Maryam Shoraka, head of OT cybersecurity operations with Sydney Trains. "I am all for sharing cybersecurity intelligence and have a coordinated incident response, but do not make me push IT policies to a system that is controlling a chemical process just because some executive wants unified management," Shoraka said.
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Do We Really Need IT-OT Integration?