Maintaining a clear view of your OT network has always been important. It’s not just about protecting your critical systems, although that’s certainly a big part. Network visibility helps you keep things running efficiently, spot potential issues before they become problems, and stay compliant with industry regulations.
As IT and OT networks continue to converge and grow in complexity, it’s crucial to have the right tools in place to see, monitor, and manage them effectively. Not sure why? Here’s five key reasons why an increase visibility in OT networks should be a top priority for your team.
1. Asset Discovery
A comprehensive understanding of all assets within an OT environment is foundational to effective network management. However, many organizations face significant visibility gaps, often underestimating the number of assets connected to their networks. For instance, a case study revealed that a client initially estimated 100-150 assets per plant, but a thorough inventory uncovered 750 assets—a fivefold increase. Such network blind spots can lead to unmanaged devices running outdated software, increasing vulnerability to cyber threats. Implementing OT asset discovery methods, such as passive network scanning, can detect and inventory these assets without disrupting operations, thereby closing visibility gaps and enhancing security.
2. Security
CSO magazine’s The State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity delivered a surprising result: OT network managers feel like their security status is getting worse instead of better. Effective visibility in OT networks starts with visibility, as a lack of insight into OT networks can leave operations vulnerable to cyberattacks and other security breaches, leading to significant financial losses and potential harm to human life.
CSO shared four key areas of OT network security best practices outlined in the Fortinet 2023 State of OT and Cybersecurity report that teams need to examine and shore up now:
- Develop a vendor and OT cybersecurity platform strategy. Consolidation reduces complexity and accelerates outcomes. The first step is to begin building a platform over time by partnering with vendors that engineer their products with integration and automation in mind to enable organizations to consistently incorporate and enforce policies across an increasingly converged IT/OT landscape. Seek to engage with vendors with a wide portfolio of solutions that can provide the basic solutions of asset inventory and segmentation and more advanced solutions, such as an OT security operations center (SOC) or the ability to support a joint IT/OT SOC.
- Deploy network access control (NAC) technology. Solving the challenges associated with securing industrial control systems (ICS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), Internet of Things (IoT), bring your own device (BYOD), and other endpoints requires advanced network access control to be part of a comprehensive security architecture. An effective NAC solution also helps to maintain complete control of an organization’s network by managing new devices that want to connect or communicate with other parts of the organization’s infrastructure.
- Employ a zero-trust access approach. Implement the basic steps of asset inventory and segmentation, and provide continuous verification of all users, applications, and devices seeking access to critical assets.
- Incorporate cybersecurity awareness education and training. Cybersecurity training remains critical because the cybersecurity battle will require that all employees have the knowledge and awareness to work together to protect themselves and their organization’s data. Organizations should consider including non-technical training that is targeted toward anyone who uses a computer or mobile device—everyone from teleworkers to their families.
Here’s the kicker: none of this is possible without heightened network visibility. Visibility facilitates the implementation of security measures. Without starting with a solid view of what’s actually on your network, you’re leaving critical gaps that make the whole exercise ineffective.
3. All the advantages of real-time detection
Real-time detection capabilities, enabled by comprehensive network visibility, are crucial for identifying security anomalies and operational issues before they become either security breaches or unplanned downtime emergencies. A proactive approach of continuous monitoring allows organizations to detect unauthorized devices or changes and respond promptly to potential security incidents, preventing cyber-attacks, minimizing downtime, and ensuring operational continuity.
Additionally, real-time insights facilitate rapid root cause analysis of recurring issues, reducing troubleshooting time and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
4. Operational efficiency
The core mission of every OT network team is to make things run as perfectly, and efficiently, as possible. Visibility into OT networks directly correlates with that. By understanding the network’s overall health and performance, organizations can proactively address potential issues before they escalate, leading to reduced downtime and optimized processes. Moreover, efficient data measurement through asset monitoring can lead to a better understanding of energy consumption or waste production, resulting in potential cost savings.
Optigo Networks created a Network Health Score to give you at-a-glance insights into your operational efficiency, and an easy way to track improvements.
5. Compliance
Many industries are subject to strict regulatory requirements aimed at ensuring the security and reliability of critical infrastructure. OT network visibility helps organizations demonstrate compliance with these regulations by providing detailed records of network activities and asset inventories. This transparency ensures that critical infrastructure is secure and meets industry standards, thereby avoiding potential legal penalties and enhancing stakeholder trust.
You Can’t Rely on IT Solutions to Cover OT Visibility
While IT security tools and strategies have evolved to offer deep visibility into enterprise networks, they often fall short in OT environments. OT networks have unique challenges that require tailored solutions, such as Operational Visibility Networks (OVN), to ensure comprehensive monitoring and security.
OT’s unique challenges: non-standard networks and IT incompatibility
Unlike traditional IT environments, OT networks are built on non-standardized systems that often include legacy devices and mission-critical processes that were not originally designed with cybersecurity in mind. These networks frequently operate with a mix of old and new technologies, creating complexity that traditional IT security tools struggle to manage.
One major challenge is incompatibility with IT security solutions. Many IT-based visibility tools rely on methods such as active network polling, which can be too intrusive for sensitive OT environments. Actively querying OT assets could disrupt their operations, leading to downtime or malfunctions. As a result, IT teams attempting to gain insight into OT environments are often forced to rely on network polling, which only provides a high-level view of network activity rather than direct asset monitoring. This leaves security teams with an incomplete picture of their OT infrastructure.
The link to data integrity
A lack of direct OT asset visibility not only reduces security effectiveness but also compromises data integrity. Without accurate, real-time insight into device configurations, vulnerabilities, and network activity, organizations are relying on outdated or incomplete information when making critical security and operational decisions. This can lead to misconfigurations, increased cyber risks, and inefficiencies that impact overall system reliability.
OptigoVN Was Built for Visibility
Looking for a clearer view of your OT network? OptigoVN should be your first choice. Unlike IT tools that often fail to address the unique needs of OT environments, OptigoVN is purpose-built to provide comprehensive visibility for operational technology systems. Its approach enables you to monitor, manage, and secure your OT network without disrupting critical operations or introducing unnecessary complexity.
OptigoVN stands out when it comes to deep diagnosis of anomalies and issues. Its advanced monitoring capabilities allow you to spot security threats or operational inefficiencies as they occur, helping to prevent downtime and minimize the impact of minor issues. OptigoVN helps your operations run more smoothly by showing you exactly how your network is performing. You’ll quickly spot bottlenecks and areas for improvement, making it easier to optimize operations and reduce costly downtime. This immediate visibility can also help identify recurring problems, enabling faster root-cause analysis and long-term solutions to improve your network’s health.
By coupling OptigoVN with powerful advanced diagnostics in Site Scope+, you unlock real-time, automated visibility into all devices on your network, even those that are difficult to detect. By identifying every asset—whether it’s a legacy device or a newly added endpoint—you can gain a clear understanding of your OT environment, minimizing blind spots and enhancing security. This ensures you’re always aware of what’s on your network, reducing the risk of unmanaged devices that might pose security vulnerabilities.
When it comes to security, OptigoVN provides the information you need to implement best practices like network segmentation, access control, and zero-trust architectures. It helps you detect and respond to issues before they escalate. Comprehensive visibility and auditing capabilities make it easier to meet regulatory requirements while maintaining a secure, efficient network.
With OptigoVN, you gain a powerful, OT-specific solution that offers the visibility and control needed to protect your infrastructure, improve operations, and stay compliant—all without compromising on performance.
Ready to see OptigoVN increase visibility in OT networks? Schedule a personalized demo today, or create a free account and explore on your own.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is OT network visibility?
OT network visibility refers to the ability to monitor and understand everything happening within your operational technology (OT) environment. This includes identifying all connected devices, tracking data flows, detecting anomalies, and assessing network health in real time.
Why is increased visibility important in OT networks?
Increased visibility in OT networks helps you discover unmanaged assets, improve security posture, reduce downtime, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. It gives your team the insights needed to proactively manage operations and troubleshoot issues before they escalate.
How does OT asset discovery work?
OT asset discovery involves identifying and inventorying all devices connected to your network—often through passive scanning tools that don’t interfere with operations. This process closes visibility gaps and ensures all devices are accounted for and secured.
Can I use IT tools for OT network visibility?
Not effectively. Most IT tools use active polling or scanning, which can disrupt sensitive OT systems. OT networks require purpose-built tools that provide deep visibility without risking downtime or compromising performance—like Optigo Visual Networks.
What’s the connection between visibility and OT cybersecurity?
You can’t secure what you can’t see. Visibility is the foundation of any OT cybersecurity strategy. Without it, you’re likely missing vulnerable assets, unauthorized changes, and threats that could compromise your operations or data integrity.
How can real-time monitoring improve OT operations?
Real-time OT network monitoring allows teams to detect anomalies, security threats, and system failures as they occur. This helps minimize downtime, accelerate root-cause analysis, and maintain operational continuity.
Does better OT network visibility help with regulatory compliance?
Yes. Many compliance standards require documented evidence of asset inventories, network activity, and security controls. OT visibility tools make it easier to generate these reports, demonstrate compliance, and avoid costly penalties.
FAQ’s are created with the assistance of generative AI
