Industrial OT Security Moves to C‑Suite Priority as Vendors Expand Protection Services

Operational technology (OT) security has shifted from a specialized concern to a board‑level priority for industrial organizations. The 2026 Fortinet State of OT and Cybersecurity Report, based on a survey of more than 700 OT professionals, shows companies are adopting interconnected systems, remote access and cloud‑based analytics, which increase efficiency but also expand the attack surface. Respondents report more realistic maturity assessments, with a rise in organizations rating themselves at lower levels and a jump in intrusion reporting—71% now report one to nine intrusions, up from 47% the previous year. Responsibility for OT cyber risk now rests with the CISO in 60% of firms, reflecting growing executive oversight.

Rockwell Automation announced enhancements to its SecureOT solution suite, launching an OT Cybersecurity Assessment Suite, SecureOT Platform Managed Services and Managed Secure Remote Access (MSRA). The new offerings use AI‑driven vulnerability detection, continuous risk prioritization and vendor‑neutral remote access to help manufacturers and critical‑infrastructure operators improve visibility, segmentation and response capabilities without disrupting production.