OT Cybersecurity: Over-Engineered or Undervalued?
Rahul Gupta , ISA Mentor
17K+Global Industrial /OT Cybersecurity Leader | Securing Critical Infrastructure I Drives Global Business Growth| Integrates Tech & Strategy| IEC 62443 SME| Regulation Compliance & Certification| Advisor|Speaker|Trainer
One of the most common concerns I hear from the field:
That’s why IEC 62443 focuses on risk-based protection, not over-engineering.
📍 You secure what matters, where it matters.
What the Community Thinks
I recently ran a poll asking:
“Do you think cybersecurity is over-engineered in OT systems like BPCS/SIS?”
Here’s what respondents said:
60% said: “No, risk justifies it”
27% said: “Depends on use case”
13% said: “Needs better awareness”
0% said: “Yes, too much protection”
The results are clear: most of the OT community sees value in current cybersecurity efforts—but there’s still a strong need for awareness and contextual decision-making.
A Key Insight from the Comments
“Is OT cybersecurity really ‘over the top’? I don’t think so… in fact, sometimes it’s not enough. The risks in systems like BPCS, SIS, SCADA, or PLCs aren’t just theory anymore. Attackers can now shut down entire plants, damage equipment, or even put people at risk.”
“Many of these systems still operate with no segmentation, no monitoring, and remote access wide open—just because ‘that’s how it’s always been done.’”
This comment captures the underlying issue: complacency and legacy habits are the real threats.
Closing Thought
With Industry 4.0 and 5.0 enabling AI-driven autonomy and real-time insights, cybersecurity isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation for evolution.
It’s not an “extra cost,” it’s the cost of entry to safely play in the modern industrial arena.
Let’s shift the conversation from “Is it too much?” to “Are we doing enough, and doing it right?”
Agree? Disagree? Let’s continue the discussion. Your voice matters in shaping safer industrial systems.
#OTCybersecurityChallenges #IEC62443 #ICS #BPCS #SIS #CyberRisk #CyberProtection #ControlSystems #DigitalTransformation
Note- All the comments and posts I share are my opinions and views and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or any affiliated organizations. Thank you for your support and understanding
Rahul Gupta , ISA Mentor - It’s definitely undervalued. Most operators still view OT cybersecurity as a discretionary cost until an incident forces a rethink. In reality, with systems like BPCS and SIS, the value is in preventing events that could halt production, damage assets, or harm people. At Obrix Security, we see it as a form of operational insurance, measured not just in avoided downtime, but in the trust and continuity it safeguards.
ICS/OT Cybersecurity Engineer & Researcher | SCADA & Industrial Network Security | Critical Infrastructure Defense | Nuclear Cybersecurity | CompTIA CIOS | eJPT | OSCP (In Progress) | GICSP (In Progress)
2wUndervalued, heavily.