Leverage AI to strengthen OT security against modern cyber threats

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As organizations around the world rapidly adopt AI, it is becoming clear that this transformation presents both great opportunities and serious risks. In the latest McKinsey Global AI Survey, 65% of participants said their companies regularly use AI, a dramatic increase in a very short period of time. This increased reliance on AI is transforming industries, particularly in operational technology (OT) areas such as manufacturing and energy, where AI has become a key driver of efficiency and automation. However, it is also becoming a powerful tool for cybercriminals, increasing the risk to OT security.

74% of OT attacks originate from IT, with ransomware being the top concern, but AI is accelerating the sophistication, scalability, and velocity of these threats. The ability to leverage AI in attacks has significantly reduced the time required for cybercriminals to develop and deploy sophisticated ransomware. What used to take 12 hours now takes just 15 minutes with the help of AI.

For example, consider the recent Black Basta ransomware attack that cost a printed circuit board manufacturer $17 million. The attacker infiltrated the organization within 30 minutes via a phishing email. Within the next 90 minutes, they elevated privileges, mapped the network, and established communication with the command and control server. In less than 14 hours, they launched a full-scale ransomware attack, stole terabytes of data, and generated multiple customized ransomware versions while the organization’s defenses were down. .

Advances in AI and large-scale language models have sped up data preparation and streamlined malware development, further shortening the timeline for such attacks, which can take as little as three hours from start to finish. . This acceleration in attack speed and complexity highlights the need for OT leaders to adopt AI-driven defenses to effectively counter these growing threats and protect AI-enabled systems.

AI: Two forces in OT security

As OT environments face accelerating AI-powered threats, AI is transforming operations across industries, driving smarter workflows, increased efficiency, and even new revenue opportunities. By leveraging smarter technologies such as AI for predictive maintenance, organizations can unlock greater value and optimize processes more effectively. However, these advances come with an urgent need for OT organizations to connect previously isolated assets to IT and cloud networks, expanding attack surfaces and introducing new vulnerabilities.

At the same time, the capabilities of AI are being exploited by cyber attackers to carry out faster, more sophisticated, and more scalable attacks. A study by Palo Alto Networks and ABI Research highlights these risks, with 74% of OT leaders citing AI attacks as a primary concern and 80% saying AI is critical to defending against attacks. I think there is. This dual role of AI requires a strategic approach. OT security leaders must leverage AI-driven defenses to counter the same technologies that aid attackers. As cyber threats continue to evolve, AI-powered security operations will be essential to detect and mitigate threats in real-time, ensuring this powerful technology remains an asset rather than a liability in the evolving OT security landscape. is guaranteed.

Growing threats to OT systems

The rise of digital transformation connects OT environments to IT networks, increasing productivity but also expanding the attack surface. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of this convergence and using advanced techniques, often powered by AI, to penetrate OT systems. Unlike IT systems, OT environments are responsible for critical infrastructure and operations, making them high-value targets with potentially significant consequences.

Diverse security challenges for IT and OT

IT environments address cyber threats using more mature tools and frameworks to detect and respond to digital attacks. However, OT environments face unique challenges. Many organizations are wary of incorporating AI into OT security due to concerns about effectively managing the risks posed by AI while maintaining strict priorities around uptime and safety. Traditional OT systems are designed with stability and continuous operation in mind, so they are not adaptable to the installation of cybersecurity tools, which can impact safety and production continuity. The focus is on avoiding interruptions. Additionally, the lack of specialized OT security tools that can integrate with AI further complicates proactive defenses.

To close this gap, it is essential to enable OT security leaders to confidently and effectively implement AI technologies. To fully realize the benefits of AI in OT security, organizations must focus on increasing controls and clarifying the risks associated with using AI.

AI as both an opportunity and a threat

While AI accelerates the sophistication of OT attacks, it also presents significant opportunities for defense. For example, AI can power anomaly detection by processing vast amounts of OT data, support real-time threat analysis, and help teams discover and respond to potential threats faster. However, AI-powered attacks such as ransomware are increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in OT systems, reducing the time between compromise and damage. As cybercriminals continue to refine these techniques, OT leaders must adapt their defense strategies to incorporate AI-driven tools specifically designed to address the complex requirements of OT security.

Build resilience through a balanced AI strategy

To manage the dual role of AI in OT environments, organizations need a balanced approach that includes rigorous risk assessments and clear governance protocols for deploying AI. Security strategies should prioritize tools developed with a deep understanding of the unique risks and challenges of OT to provide enhanced visibility, continuous monitoring, and a holistic defense approach that avoids disruption of critical processes. There is. By incorporating AI within clearly defined boundaries and controls, OT leaders can improve their security posture and effectively manage the evolving risks associated with digital transformation while defending against advanced AI-driven attacks. It can be strengthened.