The world of OT cybersecurity is mired in a frustrating cycle of back-and-forth that often feels like an endless maze of our own creation. At the heart of this is the plethora of compliance frameworks, each subtly different from the next, leading to a chaotic and confusing landscape. Customers are left bewildered, trying to decipher which framework is the “best” or most relevant for their needs. This confusion is a significant hinderance and one that could be largely alleviated if there were more concerted efforts towards alignment and collaboration in the industry. Combining frameworks and jointly focusing on coherent, unified standards would be a significant step forward.

Moreover, there’s an alarming trend of “one size fits all” recommendations being bandied about as gospel truth. This is a misguided approach, as no two OT environments are identical. Cybersecurity assessments and recommendations need to be as unique as the environments they are designed to protect. While scalability and repeatability are important, there’s a fine line between efficient standardization and a cookie-cutter approach that offers little real-world value. Far too often, recommendations come off as detached from the realities of the specific customer environment, leaning heavily on generic checklists rather than tailored advice.

This issue is further compounded when it comes to implementing foundational cybersecurity measures like firewalls, network segmentation, and network visibility. These are non-negotiable pillars of a secure OT environment, but the advice often stops at the mere assertion of their necessity. What’s sorely missing is the practical guidance on how to implement these measures with the tools and resources at hand. Customers are left with a sense of what they need to do, but without the crucial insights on how to do it effectively within their specific context.

The industry needs to shift its focus towards a more technical and skilled approach, one that respects the unique aspects of each environment. It’s not enough to preach the importance of certain measures; there must be a commitment to helping customers understand and implement these measures in a way that’s feasible and effective for them. The value of cybersecurity in OT isn’t just in ticking boxes off a checklist; it’s the nuanced, knowledgeable application of principles and practices that truly align with the specific needs and challenges of each environment. Until we address these issues head-on, the OT cybersecurity landscape will remain a frustrating realm of missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential.