OT

Hardware and software that monitors and controls physical processes.

Operational Technology refers to the hardware and software that monitor and control physical processes in settings such as manufacturing, utilities, and critical infrastructure. It often includes industrial control systems and devices with long lifecycles, legacy protocols, and limited patching windows, so availability and safety usually outrank confidentiality. Convergence with IT networks expands the attack surface, making segmentation and careful monitoring essential. OT differs from traditional IT because disruptions can have physical and safety consequences rather than only data loss.