As Operational Technology (OT) systems become increasingly connected, they are also becoming prime targets for cyberattacks—especially in critical sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and public utilities. These cyber-physical systems (CPS), when compromised, can lead to widespread power outages, disrupted supply chains, financial losses, and even risks to human safety.

To help organizations address these rising threats, Fortinet hosted the OT Security Summit 2025 — a global virtual event offering practical strategies to strengthen OT defenses and improve cyber resilience.

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Why OT Security Matters

OT systems control physical devices and processes such as power grids, manufacturing lines, and traffic management systems. As these systems become increasingly connected to IT networks and the cloud, their exposure to cyber threats grows.

Attack vectors like ransomware, phishing, and wiper malware can cause severe operational disruption and infrastructure damage. According to a study referenced during the summit, 9 out of 10 organizations experienced at least one security breach in the past year—highlighting the urgent need for robust OT security.

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What Was Covered at the Fortinet OT Security Summit?

The summit brought together OT professionals, cybersecurity leaders, and technology executives to explore how to build a unified security strategy that protects both IT and OT environments. Key topics included:

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Protecting Legacy OT Systems

Many OT environments still rely on legacy devices and protocols that lack modern security controls.
The summit introduced the use of virtual patching to shield these systems from known vulnerabilities without disrupting operations.

FortiGate, for example, supports over 1,300 OT application detection rules to block malicious traffic at the source.

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Network Segmentation & Microsegmentation

Segmenting critical OT assets limits the lateral movement of attackers. Fortinet’s Security Fabric supports both segmentation and microsegmentation to ensure safe connectivity and protect sensitive data.

???? Real-world case studies from Honeywell and Schneider Electric were presented to illustrate successful implementations.

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Implementing Zero Trust Access

Zero Trust principles—“never trust, always verify”—are essential for OT environments, especially for remote access by employees, contractors, or third-party vendors.

The summit covered how to implement tools like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to secure every access point within an OT infrastructure.

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Automated Monitoring & Response

Real-time monitoring and centralized logging are critical for detecting and containing threats. Fortinet showcased its SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) platform, integrated with MITRE ATT&CK for ICS, enabling faster threat detection and incident response.

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Leveraging AI & Threat Intelligence

With attackers now using AI-enhanced tools, defenders must fight fire with fire. Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs delivers AI-powered threat intelligence to detect and prevent advanced threats, including zero-day attacks—keeping OT environments secure and operational.

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The Benefits of an Integrated IT/OT Security Strategy

A major theme of the summit was the importance of IT/OT convergence within a unified security architecture. Fortinet’s Security Fabric enables organizations to:

• Gain Full Visibility: Monitor every OT device and how it communicates.
• Automate Security Processes: Shorten response times with integrated, automated workflows.
• Scale with Flexibility: Adaptable to organizations of all sizes—from individual plants to nationwide infrastructure.

The summit also featured success stories from global partners like Siemens, Rockwell Automation, and Schneider Electric, demonstrating how they’re using Fortinet Security Fabric to protect mission-critical operations.

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As threats grow more complex, the need for purpose-built OT security has never been more urgent. Fortinet continues to lead the charge in helping industries secure the future of their operational environments.

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