What is OT & What is OT-IT convergence?

OT and IT systems, though distinct, are increasingly integrated to create smart, responsive environments. OT supports critical building operations by automating essential processes, while IT provides the data infrastructure and cybersecurity needed for safe, efficient operation. IT-OT convergence enables these systems to work together, offering real-time insights and operational improvements. By understanding and managing both OT and IT, businesses can optimize their physical and digital infrastructures, ensuring safety, comfort, and efficiency across all environments.

Cyber-Physical Security ensures the safety, reliability, and functionality of interconnected physical and digital systems. This approach recognizes that physical and cyber threats are increasingly interrelated, with cyberattacks capable of disrupting physical operations and physical breaches potentially compromising digital networks.

Operational Technology (OT) refers to the systems—both hardware and software—that manage and monitor physical infrastructure and processes in various environments. In commercial spaces like office buildings, healthcare facilities, retail locations, and educational campuses, OT solutions are essential for ensuring that critical systems such as HVAC, lighting, and access controls operate smoothly, safely, and efficiently. OT systems form the technological foundation of these environments, helping to maintain secure, efficient spaces that meet the needs of occupants.

Where You’ll Find OT

OT is critical across multiple sectors where seamless operation of physical assets is essential, including:

Commercial Real Estate: Manages core building functions such as heating, cooling, lighting, and security to optimize occupant comfort and building efficiency.

Corporate Real Estate: Manages equipment, sensors, and other IOT that business install into their workspaces to optimize comfort and efficiency of their workforce and visitors.

Retail Spaces: Maintains temperature, security, and customer-facing elements like lighting and digital signage to enhance the shopping experience and to increase workforce productivity.

Healthcare Facilities: Regulates systems that control air quality, lighting in sensitive areas, and secure access to critical zones.

Educational Facilities:  Supports infrastructure across campuses, including environmental controls, lighting, and access management to ensure safe learning environments.

Data Centers and Warehouses: Maintains climate and air quality to protect server integrity and storage conditions.

The Role of OT

In these environments, OT systems improve operational efficiency and occupant experience by focusing on two primary functions:

Monitoring: Tracking performance and safety metrics of essential systems (like HVAC and lighting) to anticipate maintenance needs and prevent disruptions.
Control: Automating building processes to optimize safety and resource usage, ensuring a consistent and secure experience for all occupants.

Why OT Matters

For spaces focused on comfort, safety, and efficiency, OT is essential to maintaining high operational standards. By automating critical processes and providing real-time insights, OT helps reduce human error, enhance safety, and ensure environments remain responsive to user needs.

While IT and OT serve complementary roles in managing different aspects of a business’s infrastructure, it’s crucial to understand their distinct focuses:

Operational Technology (OT): OT centers on controlling and managing physical devices and processes. It’s integral to environments that depend on continuous monitoring of physical assets, such as building management systems in commercial properties or air quality systems in healthcare facilities.

Information Technology (IT): IT is focused on managing and securing data. Its primary function is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information within an organization. IT systems handle secure data storage, manage networks, and support communications, both internally and externally.

Key Differences Between IT and OT

Purpose: OT is designed to manage physical processes and equipment, whereas IT manages digital data and secures communication.

Focus Areas: OT prioritizes the safe, efficient operation of industrial equipment, while IT ensures data protection and availability.

Implementation Examples: OT controls building automation and HVAC systems; IT powers email servers, databases, and cloud applications.

By recognizing these differences, organizations can manage both their physical and digital infrastructures more effectively, ensuring smooth, secure operations.

Understanding IT-OT Convergence

IT-OT Convergence is the integration of Information Technology (IT) systems with Operational Technology (OT) systems. Traditionally separate, these domains now combine to enable a seamless exchange of information that enhances both operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making.

For example, integrating OT with IT systems allows data from HVAC systems in a building to be analyzed alongside occupancy data. The result is optimized temperature and lighting settings based on real-time usage, which reduces energy consumption and improves occupant comfort.

The convergence of IT and OT systems helps businesses gain deeper insights by merging operational data with analytical tools, allowing for proactive adjustments to facilities management, reducing costs, and improving tenant satisfaction.

The primary challenge of IT-OT convergence is cybersecurity. OT systems have historically been isolated to minimize exposure to cyber threats. However, as IT networks integrate with OT systems, these once-isolated systems are now exposed to external risks. Increased connectivity through remote access, third-party vendors, and cloud services has enlarged the potential attack surface.

To address these risks, Neeve offers solutions such as Secure Edge™ appliances and Cloud Connectors, which provide end-to-end encryption, identity management, and continuous monitoring to protect OT networks. These tools enable OT systems to connect, monitor, and operate with IT networks without compromising on security.