78 Microsoft’s Indranil Sircar discusses why OT security has become critical for modern manufacturing and how greater visibility, zero trust principles and phased modernisation can protect operations while enabling AI-driven innovation BY RICHARD HUMPHREYS FEATURE blind From For today’s connected factories, operational technology (OT) security has very much become a business priority. OT encompasses the industrial control systems, legacy devices and machinery that power factories, many of which were designed for a pre-cloud era. As these systems become increasingly connected, they are more exposed to cyber risk, which can directly impact production continuity, worker safety and regulatory compliance. With that, OT security shifts from a technical concern to a board-level issue. For industrial organisations, these pressures are compounded by the convergence of IT and OT systems. Historically isolated factory networks are now connected to cloud platforms, remote maintenance services and digital supply chains. While this connectivity enables new efficiencies and innovation, it also expands the potential attack surface. “The shift happens when cyber risk stops being abstract and becomes operational,” explains Indranil Sircar, chief technology officer of Microsoft’s manufacturing and mobility industry. “When a cyber incident can halt production, affect worker safety, trigger regulatory scrutiny or disrupt supply commitments, it stops being a technical discussion. At that point, it’s about whether the business can operate safely and reliably. Boards tend to engage more decisively when cyber risk is directly tied to uptime, safety and reputation rather than data loss alone.” The urgency is reflected in broader industry trends. A forecast by Cybersecurity Ventures, a leading researcher of the global cyber economy, often cited by those in the industry to give an idea of the scale of cybercrime’s impact, suggests that cybercrime is the world’s third largest and fastest growing economy, with costs spiralling from $3 trillion in 2015 to $10.5 trillion in 2025. At to boardroom confidence spots
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