Operational technology cybersecurity shifts focus to business resilience

Operational technology (OT) cybersecurity is shifting from a focus on network segmentation toward broader business resilience and recovery readiness. According to the 2026 Operational Technology Cybersecurity Benchmark Report by Honeywell Technologies, serious OT security incidents remain common, with 73% of surveyed critical infrastructure organizations reporting at least one incident in the past year. These incidents can result in an average of 16 hours of downtime and financial losses reaching up to $500,000 per hour.

Recent developments include the identification of a significant vulnerability in multiple industrial control systems (ICS) that could allow unauthorized access to critical operational data. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has introduced a new regulatory framework to bolster cybersecurity in the OT sector, emphasizing risk management and incident reporting. In the energy sector, a sophisticated phishing campaign has also been detected, targeting employees to gain access to sensitive information.