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www.us-tech.com Securing the Future of Process Automation Through IT/OT Convergence By Jeff Elliott I
n the processing industries, operational technology (OT) systems that control and automate physical industrial operations
have traditionally been isolated from infor- mation technology (IT) systems that manage data and enterprise-level functions. This sep- aration was largely driven by cyberse- curity concerns, leading to strict con- trols on OT networks and limiting their ability to connect with broader IT infrastructure. However, this division has hin-
dered the ability to achieve critical automation advancements. Integrating OT and IT systems
enables continuous data flow, unlock- ing full operational visibility, accelerat- ing decision making, and allowing for proactive problem solving. It also lays the foundation for AI-driven process automation, which depends on secure, real-time access to external data to deliver real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and adaptive control. This shift is accelerating the develop-
now enable open yet secure communication across all levels of the automation architecture — bridging OT and IT environments — while protecting critical assets and data. The objec- tive is to advance toward intelligent automa- tion that enhances operational efficiency,
industries encompass the hardware and soft- ware used to control, monitor, and automate physical industrial processes. These systems are critical for ensuring
the safe, efficient, and continuous operation of equipment such as pumps, compressors, reac- tors, valves, and other machinery com- monly found in industries like oil and gas, chemicals, power generation, water treatment, and pharmaceuticals. However, automation systems
Distributed control systems manage process operations and ensure secure data exchange between the plant floor and enterprise systems.
ment of systems that support secure IT/OT convergence, prompting leading DCS providers like Valmet to design solutions with cybersecurity and connectivity as foun- dational elements. “Modern distributed control systems must
increases asset utilization, and delivers tangi- ble cost savings across the production land- scape,” says Taavi Veltheim, manager, global solution management — DCS at Valmet.
Integrating OT and IT According to Veltheim, Opera tional
Technology (OT) systems in the process Products that leverage the boundary-scan test potential HARDWARE JTAG IEEE Std. 1149.1 SOFTWARE INTEGRATIONS 30+ ye he hea t 30+ y ars in t years in in the heart of electroniics DESIGN
Customers in 50+ countries
PRODUCTION
10 000 sy te SERVICE 2,500 c 2500+ customers tomers s 1 ,000+ systems sold s sold eart of elect on cs
have traditionally functioned as isolat- ed, highly secured environments — effectively digital fortresses with strict controls preventing any external data exchange. While this architecture pro- vided strong protection against cyber threats, it also created a major limita- tion: no digital data could enter or exit the OT network. AI-driven tools also require access
to external information for effective implementation within closed, auto-
mated systems. These systems must securely exchange data beyond their immediate envi- ronment to harness the full potential of arti- ficial intelligence, particularly generative AI. With AI-driven tools set to transform
process automation, the emphasis is shifting to the distributed control systems (DCS) that
Continued on next page
September 2025
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