From Legacy to Leading Edge: Challenges & Solutions in OT Security

Automation Alley is proud to partner with CymanII and Michigan Technological University on the dissemination of a new cybersecurity playbook focused on protecting Operational Technology (OT) systems in an increasingly connected manufacturing world. Developed by Corsha, the leading Identity Provider for Machines, the new playbook titled "Challenges & Solutions in OT Security" addresses the unique cybersecurity risks posed by legacy equipment, increased connectivity, and the growing convergence of OT and IT networks.

As digital transformation drives factories, supply chains, and production systems online, machine-to-machine communication has become a vital backbone of modern industry. Yet, most OT equipment was never designed with cybersecurity in mind, leaving critical infrastructure exposed. According to the playbook, recent data shows a 2,000% increase in attacks targeting OT systems since 2020, with 70% of industrial organizations falling victim to cyber incidents in the past year alone.

Corsha’s new playbook outlines actionable strategies for building trust across connected machines using identity-first security. It highlights the importance of dynamic machine identities, real-time observability, role-based access controls, and network segmentation in defending OT environments without compromising uptime or operational efficiency.

Inside the playbook:

• How legacy OT systems create blind spots for cyber threats
• Real-world risks of unsecured OT-to-IT communication
• Key strategies: one-time-use MFA credentials, asset observability, and micro-segmentation
• How to balance security with uptime in real-time control systems
• Best practices for identity management in machine-to-machine interactions

The playbook reinforces Corsha’s mission to empower enterprises to connect, automate, and move data securely by giving machines the same level of identity and access management that humans already enjoy.

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