The merging of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) is reshaping how businesses secure their operations, optimize processes, and lower expenses. Across sectors like automotive, chemicals, and electronics, companies are actively integrating IT and OT systems to gain competitive advantages.
Understanding IT and OT: What’s the Difference?
Operational Technology consists of the physical devices and software used to control and monitor industrial equipment. This includes sensors on factory floors, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and supervisory control systems (SCADA) with human-machine interfaces.
In contrast, Information Technology focuses on managing data and business applications like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems).
Integrating IT and OT — often called IT/OT convergence — aims to create a seamless ecosystem that enhances operational insight and control.
Who Leads IT/OT Convergence?
CIOs spearhead the integration process in most companies. The dominance of IT leadership is often due to their stronger background in cybersecurity and systems management, while OT lacks equivalent centralized leadership roles.
Main Advantages of IT/OT Integration
The three core benefits of IT/OT convergence are:
- Improved Cybersecurity: By aligning security protocols and centralizing user management, companies can better protect their networks and industrial devices.
- Cost Efficiency: Integration eliminates duplicated systems, such as multiple Active Directory instances, saving time and money.
- Data-Driven Growth: Unified data streams from production environments enable companies to enhance product quality and create innovative digital offerings.
Overcoming Communication Barriers
While integration offers many advantages, challenges remain in coordinating IT and OT teams. Frequently, interaction is limited to specific projects, and organizations lack a common vocabulary or collaborative frameworks.
Developing shared communication channels and cross-disciplinary teams is essential to achieving a fully integrated IT/OT environment.
Cybersecurity as a Key Driver
Legacy OT systems often pose security risks due to outdated protections. This vulnerability has made cybersecurity the primary motivation for merging IT and OT efforts.
Unified security policies and consistent enforcement across both domains are critical to strengthening overall resilience against cyber threats like ransomware.
Framework for Effective IT/OT Governance
A new structured governance approach that includes:
- A shared vision communicated across the organization
- Clear project roadmaps and defined responsibilities
- Common policies and standards for procurement and operations
This framework helps companies maintain alignment and manage complexity during integration.
Current State of IT/OT Integration
Despite the clear benefits, only a small percentage of firms have fully integrated their IT and OT systems. Others remain in early planning or pilot phases, often hindered by diverse system landscapes and limited OT leadership.
OT departments generally control the production data, underscoring the need for mutual trust and joint management of information assets.
Six Practical Recommendations for Successful Integration
To accelerate IT/OT convergence, companies should:
- Gain strong support from top executives to guide and unify efforts.
- Use cybersecurity concerns as a catalyst for cooperation.
- Appoint a dedicated OT leader to complement the CIO’s role.
- Encourage physical proximity between IT and OT teams to foster collaboration.
- Regularly demonstrate the value of integration through success stories.
- Proceed incrementally to ensure OT teams adopt changes willingly.
Also read: How to Improve Employee Experience Through a Smarter IT Service Desk
Concluding Note
Integrating IT and OT systems is no longer just a technical challenge — it’s a strategic imperative. Organizations that embrace convergence can secure their operations better, cut costs, and unlock the full potential of their manufacturing data. Building effective governance and fostering collaboration across teams will be the keys to success.
