Cybersecurity for Operational Technology
Cybersecurity for Operational Technology
Why is cybersecurity essential for operational technology (OT)?
In an ever-changing digital landscape, cybersecurity for OT has become crucial to guarantee the continuous availability, reliability and security of your installations and systems.
With our practical approach, we increase the security status of your operational technology. Equans supports you in exploring, protecting, identifying, responding to and restoring all possible security measures within your industrial network.
The difference between OT and IT
The difference between IT and OT cybersecurity is described in the word itself; the security priorities are different in both systems.
For example, availability will be a very high priority in OT, but less so in IT. For OT, real-time is obviously critical and the components will have a lifespan of more than 20 years. An IT system accepts delays in real time and its components need to be replaced more quickly. IT cybersecurity will guarantee regular software updates. This also includes regular audits. This is not so common in OT.
Security awareness will continue to grow in OT, whereas in IT it has already matured and stabilised. In IT, availability is negotiable; in OT, availability is everything!
Security objective priorities
Compliance is a must
In an era of increasing cybersecurity threats, compliance with regulatory frameworks and industry standards is no longer optional – it is essential to ensure business continuity, protect sensitive systems and mitigate legal and financial risks.
For asset owners of operational technology (OT) environments, failure to meet compliance requirements can have serious consequences, including heavy fines, management liability and reputational damage.
Key Compliance Drivers
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European Regulations: The NIS2 Directive and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) are designed to strengthen the security of critical infrastructure and impose stricter cybersecurity requirements across various sectors.
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Specific requirements for Belgium: The CyberFundamentals Framework and CyFun® certification provide companies operating in Belgium with targeted guidelines for meeting compliance requirements.
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Industry standards: We strive for the best possible alignment with existing cybersecurity standards, as these are crucial for establishing robust cybersecurity frameworks. Compliance with standards such as ISA/IEC 62443, ISO/IEC 27001, CIS Controls, NIST CSF and others is essential for making systems secure, scalable and resilient.
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The new European Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, which will fully enter into force on 20 January 2027 and will replace the current Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
Our OT Cybersecurity services
COMPLIANCE
- Risk analysis and assessment
- Security policies and procedures
- Network design
IMPLEMENTATION
- Identity & access management (IAM)
- Network security and segmentation
- Platform and system security
MONITORING
- Managed Security Services
- Vulnerability Management
- Incident Response and Recovery
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
- Security audits
- Security assessments
- Incident response training
AWARENESS & TRAINING
- Role-specific workshops
- Introduction to OT cybersecurity
- Incident response training
Would you like to learn more about our services and how we can assist your organisation with OT Cybersecurity?
Please do not hesitate to contact our experts for a personal consultation.
References
As OT cybersecurity specialists, we combine hands‑on practical experience with a proven track record in complex industrial environments.
Discover our OT Cybersecurity simulation environment
The unique OT Cybersecurity Simulation Lab from Equans Digital enables organisations to test security solutions, train their teams and simulate industrial risks, without any impact on their production environment.
Your All-in-One Partner for OT Cybersecurity
Equans Digital is your one-stop shop for cybersecurity protection, covering the entire cybersecurity lifecycle.
Our comprehensive services are designed to address cybersecurity challenges in a structured, scalable and cost-efficient manner. Thanks to our broad service portfolio, we can support customers at every stage of their cybersecurity journey: from initial assessments and strategic development to implementation, monitoring and continuous optimisation.
As a vendor-independent and technology-neutral partner, we offer objective expertise and guarantee the best solutions for your specific needs. Unlike general cybersecurity providers, we are the only true OT cybersecurity specialists, with practical, hands-on experience and a proven track record in complex industrial environments.
Whether you need guidance on compliance, protection against cyber threats, or a strategy for continuous improvement, our customised solutions offer the flexibility and expertise needed to effectively secure your OT environment.
Frequently asked questions about OT Cybersecurity
Do you have questions about our OT cybersecurity solutions? We are happy to help explain everything in a clear and straightforward way.
Other questions?
OT Cybersecurity focuses on protecting industrial systems and operational technologies such as PLCs, SCADA systems, DCS platforms, industrial networks and the installations connected to them against cyber threats. The goal is to ensure the availability, safety and continuity of critical processes, even when digital systems are under pressure.
In IT, cybersecurity mainly revolves around protecting data and information systems. In OT environments, the continuity and availability of physical processes are central. A cyber incident can not only lead to data loss, but also to production downtime, safety incidents or damage to installations.
In addition, OT systems often remain in service for decades, must run 24/7 and can rarely be patched easily. OT Cybersecurity therefore requires its own approach and expertise, with respect for how a production environment actually operates.
Yes. Industrial companies are increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks, hacktivists and state-sponsored actors. The combination of ageing systems, increasing connectivity and digitalisation makes many OT environments vulnerable. Moreover, a successful attack can have a significant operational and financial impact.
An OT Cybersecurity Maturity Assessment provides insight into where your environment stands today, based on the reality on the shop floor rather than solely on documentation. We evaluate what is actually installed and connected, how access and changes are managed, and whether responsibilities are clearly assigned.
The result is an honest maturity assessment with concrete risks and priorities, serving as a starting point for a realistic improvement plan.
For Belgian industrial companies, NIS2 is the main legal requirement, with the CyberFundamentals Framework (CyFun) of the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) as a practical guideline.
IEC 62443 forms the technical backbone for industrial cybersecurity, while ISO 27001 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework provide a broader reference framework.
Importantly, compliance is the result of a well-functioning security programme, not an objective in itself.
An assessment is only the starting point. Based on the results, we build a phased improvement programme:
- first stabilising the basics through reliable insight into assets and dependencies,
- then reducing exposure through network segmentation, access management and supplier agreements,
- and finally embedding operations through monitoring, incident response and clear responsibilities.
Always in the same order: people and processes first, then technology.
Equans Digital combines deep industrial knowledge with specialised OT Cybersecurity expertise. Our consultants understand both the operational reality of production environments and the cybersecurity challenges that come with it.
This sets us apart from “traditional” cybersecurity experts, whose knowledge is often limited to the IT side of the story.
With certified experts, we support clients from strategy and compliance through to implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement.
No. Threats evolve, installations change and regulations progress, meaning that a level of security that is sufficient today may not be so in a year’s time.
That is why we approach OT Cybersecurity as an operating model: a sustained way of working with clear responsibilities, a fixed evaluation rhythm and continuous improvement, rather than a series of isolated projects.
This ensures that your security evolves alongside your production environment. Cybersecurity is a continuous process.
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