User:PiotrCC

Operational Technology (OT) – is concerned with technology that supports industrial processes. Usually environments containing industrial control systems (ICS) including supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, distributed control systems (DCS), Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) and programmable logic controllers (PLC) as well as dedicated networks and organization units. The term has been establish to demonstrate technological and functional differences between traditional IT systems and control systems realm.

Due to the fact that Operational Technology is used in refineries, power plants, nuclear plants etc. it is also commonly used in terms of critical infrastructure systems.

Security

In terms of Security attributes (confidentiality, availability and integrity) in traditional IT confidentiality is usually referred to be the most important while in OT it is always availability.

Systems

Since OT systems supervise industrial processes availability must be sustain 24/7.

Protocols

OT network consists of industrial protocols (e.g. ModBus, ProfiBus) and TCP/IP protocol.

Term is now widely used in the industry but also for instance by Gartner: http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1590814 http://www.gartner.com/technology/research/it-ot-alignment/