Operational Technology (OT)<\/strong> runs the world \u2014 factories, power plants, water utilities, and transport systems. As IT and OT environments converge<\/strong>, the once-isolated industrial systems that kept operations running safely are now connected to enterprise networks, cloud platforms, and remote access systems. For years, OT cybersecurity was simply added to the IT CISO\u2019s portfolio. \ud83d\udca1 In IT, the mission is to protect data<\/em>. That difference changes everything. The OT CISO<\/strong> role is emerging across critical industries \u2014 energy, manufacturing, water, and transportation \u2014 as organizations realize they need leadership that understands both engineering and cybersecurity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2705 Navigates the intersection of IT and OT \u2014 especially the Purdue Level 3<\/strong> integration layer. Regulations like NIS2<\/strong> and NERC CIP<\/strong> are raising expectations for executive accountability in OT security. OT cybersecurity deserves a seat at the executive table. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \ud83d\udd12 Securing the Systems That Run the World Operational Technology (OT) runs the world \u2014 factories, power plants, water utilities, and transport systems.But who\u2019s really securing it? As IT and OT environments converge, the once-isolated industrial systems that kept operations running safely are now connected to enterprise networks, cloud platforms, and remote access systems.And in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carlozeelie.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carlozeelie.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carlozeelie.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carlozeelie.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carlozeelie.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/carlozeelie.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":484,"href":"https:\/\/carlozeelie.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions\/484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carlozeelie.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
But who\u2019s really securing it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in this new landscape, Purdue Level 3 has become the battleground<\/strong> \u2014 where IT meets OT, and where most modern cyber risks emerge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy an OT CISO Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
But OT \u2260 IT.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83d\udca1 In OT, the mission is to protect people, uptime, and equipment<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A breach in the IT network might leak information \u2014 but a breach in OT can halt production, damage assets, or impact safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat Makes an OT CISO Different<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u2705 Speaks the language of both engineering and business.
\u2705 Balances safety, reliability, and security.
\u2705 Builds programs aligned with ISA\/IEC 62443<\/strong>, NIST 800-82<\/strong>, and ISO 27019<\/strong>.
\u2705 Translates technical cyber risk into operational and business impact.
\u2705 Leads collaboration between IT, OT, and operations teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhere We\u2019re Headed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Forward-looking organizations are already appointing dedicated OT CISOs<\/strong> or Heads of Industrial Cybersecurity<\/strong> to lead these efforts.
But for many, the journey is still unfolding \u2014 with IT\/OT convergence introducing new risks that blur traditional boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMy Call to Action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We need to define, empower, and mature the OT CISO role<\/strong> \u2014 not as a subset of IT, but as a strategic function driving operational resilience<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n