Unifying Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) via IoT

Executive Summary

The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing the world of networked computing, enabling advanced applications to intelligently monitor and control remote sensors, mobile devices, and smart machines. This technological evolution is blurring the boundaries between traditional Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) systems. The primary objective of this whitepaper is to explore the business advantages of a converged OT/IT intelligent systems architecture, including reduced risk, optimized costs, and accelerated implementation.

Technical Background

The IoT brings the ability to connect devices, systems, and applications to create a flexible, interoperable environment that ranges from the smallest devices to the largest data centers. Legacy machine-to-machine (M2M) systems can now be replaced by more powerful, continually evolving IoT solutions. Proprietary operational control systems are giving way to new, open solutions based on standard IT platforms and protocols.

System Architecture

The IoT is composed of connected sensors, meters, and actuators which monitor and manage the health and actions of people, resources, and machines. Unlike legacy operational control systems, modern OT solutions use standards-based IT infrastructure and communications protocols to cost-effectively achieve greater flexibility and scalability.

Implementation Details

By adopting standards-based OT solutions and converging disparate OT and IT environments, enterprises can reduce infrastructure cost and complexity and improve performance. Most businesses treat IT and OT as isolated technologies and engineer, maintain, and use each for different purposes. The convergence of these systems necessitates strategic alignment and careful planning.

Code Examples

Implementation of these solutions would involve the use of a variety of coding languages and protocols depending on the chosen IoT platform. This section would typically include code examples pertaining to the integration of OT and IT systems on an IoT platform.

Performance Analysis

Successful implementation of the OT/IT convergence results in various efficiencies and cost savings. This section would typically include data and metric-based analysis of the performance benefits of the convergence.

Security Considerations

Securing these converged systems is paramount, and this section would usually discuss the recommendations for ensuring the security of these systems.

Troubleshooting

This section is typically dedicated to addressing common issues that might arise during the implementation and integration of these IT and OT systems in an IoT framework.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the convergence of OT and IT systems on an IoT platform leads to improved efficiency, cost savings, and innovative potential. This whitepaper provides the guidelines for implementing such a framework and the strategies to align OT and IT assets for successful IoT initiatives.