Industry 4.0: The security implications of operational technology

Abstract

Over the past several years, we have been experiencing the fourth industrial revolution, more commonly known as Industry 4.0. This evolution is being exacerbated by the influx of new technologies, advanced digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and the cloud, which is pushing the operational technology (OT) world into new realms with regards to security. Consequently, to achieve Industry 4.0, organisations must embrace the convergence between OT and information technology (IT), while understanding the vital role that cyber security plays throughout this process.