Cybersecurity a challenge in digitalising OT

Issue 3 2025 Information Security, Industrial (Industry)

According to a study by Kaspersky and VDC Research on securing operational technology (OT) environments, the primary risks are inadequate security measures, insufficient resources allocated to OT cybersecurity, challenges surrounding regulatory compliance, and the complexities of IT/OT integration.

The research, titled Securing OT with Purpose-built Solutions, aims to analyse the current state of OT cybersecurity and provide valuable insights into the key business and technical trends affecting OT organisations. It also identifies the best practices being implemented to address these challenges. The findings were derived from ongoing research in the OT cybersecurity sector, conducted by VDC Research over several years, and a recent survey involving over 250 OT and IT decision-makers from various industries, including energy, utilities, transportation, logistics, and manufacturing.

A lengthy process with tight deadlines

According to the study, nearly a third (31,1%) of industrial companies globally (25,8% in the EMEA region) are primarily or entirely dependent on manual processes or are just starting to implement digital technologies for specific tasks, while almost a quarter (22,7%) globally (21,5% in EMEA) have already integrated some connected digital technologies. Despite these varying levels of digitalisation, a remarkable majority (63,6%) of industrial organisations globally (67% in EMEA) expressed their intention to achieve the ‘fully digital’ stage of their transformation, characterised by proactive and continuous enhancement of digital capabilities, within the next two years.

However, the cybersecurity risks inherent in connecting OT systems can significantly undermine the benefits of digital transformation. With an increasing number of organisations moving towards a fully connected digital environment, cybersecurity concerns emerge as the most frequently cited factor negatively impacting the implementation of digital technologies in OT settings, affecting 39,3% of respondents globally (43,8% in EMEA).

When discussing specific cybersecurity concerns that hinder companies’ adoption of digital technologies, respondents highlighted several critical issues: 46,6% globally (49% in EMEA) pointed to inadequate security measures within their existing infrastructure, while another 46,6% globally (46,9% in EMEA) cited insufficient budgets or personnel dedicated to addressing operational technology (OT) cybersecurity. Additionally, 42,7% globally (46,9% in EMEA) acknowledged regulatory compliance challenges, and 41,7% globally (42,9% in EMEA) emphasised the complexities of IT/OT integration.

An enabling technology

Despite these concerns, it is important to recognise that cybersecurity serves as an enabling technology for digital transformation. Without robust protection for data and systems, the full potential of digital technologies remains unrealised, as such concerns can erode trust and hinder an organisation’s digitalisation journey.

“As connectivity and reliance on digital technologies continue to grow, the potential for cyberthreats rises as well. It is crucial for industrial organisations to adopt robust cybersecurity solutions to ensure that while they implement new OT systems and enhance their overall efficiency, they simultaneously mitigate potential cyber risks that could result in significant disruptions and financial losses,” stated Andrey Strelkov, head of industrial cybersecurity product line at Kaspersky.

For OT customers, Kaspersky provides a unique ecosystem that seamlessly integrates specialised OT-grade technologies, expert knowledge, and invaluable expertise. Kaspersky Industrial Cybersecurity (KICS), a native XDR platform for critical infrastructure, is the cornerstone of this OT ecosystem. It offers centralised asset inventory, risk management, and audit and enables security scalability across diverse, distributed infrastructure via a single platform.

To read the full report, Securing OT with Purpose-built Solutions, go to tinyurl.com/2du7ydj5


Credit(s)




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Highest increase in global cyberattacks in two years
Information Security News & Events
Check Point Global Research released new data on Q2 2024 cyber-attack trends, noting a 30% global increase in Q2 2024, with Africa experiencing the highest average weekly per organisation.

Read more...
Open source code can also be open risk
Information Security Infrastructure
Software development has changed significantly over the years, and today, open-source code increasingly forms the foundation of modern applications, with surveys indicating that 60 – 90% of the average application's code base consists of open-source components.

Read more...
DeepSneak deception
Information Security News & Events
Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis researchers have discovered a new malicious campaign which is distributing a Trojan through a fake DeepSeek-R1 Large Language Model (LLM) app for PCs.

Read more...
SA’s strained, loadshedding-prone grid faces cyberthreats
Power Management Information Security
South Africa’s energy sector, already battered by decades of underinvestment and loadshedding, faces another escalating crisis; a wave of cyberthreats that could turn disruptions into catastrophic failures. Attacks are already happening internationally.

Read more...
Almost 50% of companies choose to pay the ransom
News & Events Information Security
This year’s Sophos State of Ransomware 2025 report found that nearly 50% of companies paid the ransom to get their data back, the second-highest rate of ransom payment for ransom demands in six years.

Read more...
Survey highlights cost of cyberdamage to industrial companies
Kaspersky Information Security News & Events
The majority of industrial organisations estimate their financial losses caused by cyberattacks to be over $1 million, while almost one in four report losses exceeding $5 million, and for some, it surpasses $10 million.

Read more...
Digital economy needs an agile approach to cybersecurity
Information Security News & Events
South Africa is the most targeted country in Africa when it comes to infostealer and ransomware attacks. Being at the forefront of the continent’s digital transformation puts South Africa in the crosshairs for sophisticated cyberattacks

Read more...
SIEM rule threat coverage validation
Information Security News & Events
New AI-detection engineering assistant from Cymulate automates SIEM rule validation for SecOps and blue teams by streamlining threat detection engineering with automated testing, control integrations and enhanced detections.

Read more...
Security and privacy: Is one without the other possible?
IoT & Automation Industrial (Industry)
OEMs have a duty to protect privacy as much as security. If security protection is about keeping people out of an embedded device, privacy protection safeguards the data inside the device.

Read more...
Are AI agents a game-changer?
Information Security
While AI-powered chatbots have been around for a while, AI agents go beyond simple assistants, functioning as self-learning digital operatives that plan, execute, and adapt in real time. These advancements do not just enhance cybercriminal tactics, they may fundamentally change the battlefield.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.