Operational Technology (OT)

Operational Technology is the hardware and software that monitors and controls physical processes aboard ship: engine and propulsion control, cargo and ballast systems, power management, and integrated navigation. OT differs from IT in priorities, availability and safety over confidentiality, and in lifecycles measured in decades, which leaves legacy controllers unpatched and exposed as OT and IT networks converge. Segmentation, the IT/OT firewall, and the IEC 62443 standard are the core defenses.