Page 25 - Cyber Defense eMagazine July 2024

Who’s Minding the Store?

Why Operational Technology Security Has Become a Top Priority for Federal Security Leaders

By Heather Young, Regional Vice President US Federal, Claroty

The Federal OT footprint – from military base operations to their public utilities, from postal operations to
NASA missions - is immense, which means the potential cyber attack surface is as well. As adversaries
develop new tactics for potential OT-related disruption, Federal agencies and the Service Branches have
been prioritizing OT now more than ever. (OT, sometimes referred to as cyber-physical systems, is
defined as programmable systems or devices that interact with the physical environment or managed
devices that interact with the physical environment.)

For Federal civilian and DoD agencies, defending against OT attacks presents unique challenges. A new
study examining the state of OT security at Federal civilian and DoD agencies underscores the realities
of the threat landscape they face and highlights how these Federal guardians have taken proactive
measures to identify vulnerabilities and bolster their security posture.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – July 2024 Edition 25
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