Modern industry surges forward, and Operational Technology, or OT, helps keep those wheels turning.
OT is the link between physical operations and the digital systems managing them. It refers to the hardware and software used to monitor and control physical processes, devices, and infrastructure used in industry.
There’s growing convergence between IT and OT as digital transformation gains footholds in industrial operations. The symbiotic relationship ensures enhanced data collection and analysis, improved predictive maintenance and greater efficiencies.
Smile IT has an Operational Technology division, specialising in helping you overcome your industrial work challenges. Click the button below to get in touch about it!
n mining, OT is required for automating and controlling large, complex machines. It’s used to monitor environmental conditions and manage energy use, helping improve safety, reduce waste and enhance productivity in environments that are often remote and hazardous.
The complex extraction, refinement and distribution of sensitive materials is heavily dependant on intelligent operational technology systems. Functions such as drilling operations, maintaining pipeline integrity and managing energy resources all extensively use operational technology. It helps keep hazardous and cost-sensitive environments safe and productive.
By controlling machinery and automating processes, OT is essential in keeping manufacturing environments productive and cost efficient. Downtime is reduced thanks to the real time monitoring of equipment, where predictive maintenance means failures are dealt with before they gather steam.
Healthcare officials are able to make better-informed decisions and improve patient experiences thanks to the use of OT in the healthcare industry. Systems include everything from medical imaging devices to healthcare records and critical infrastructure in hospitals such as life support machines. Better patient care, rooted in precise diagnostics, is just one of the positive outcomes.
OT is vital in the maritime industry for everything from navigation and monitoring engine performance to managing cargo. Systems are used to control everything from vessel propulsion to cargo handling, ensuring operations meet stringent safety standards while remaining efficient.
When introducing operational technology, there are two categories generally referred to:
The Internet of Things (IoT): A network of smart, interconnected devices communicating and sharing data across the internet. For example, sensors on industrial machinery use IoT to collect and transfer data.
Industrial Control Systems (ICS): Specialised computer-based systems that monitor and control industrial processes, for example manufacturing and water treatment.
They’re both essential in the operation of critical industrial processes, and both share a need for connectivity to a wider network for the transfer of data and control commands.
This is part of the growing interconnectedness between IT and OT, an increasingly important convergence in the collection, storage and usage of operational data. This data improves efficiency, safety, and decision-making within an organisation.
At the heart of it all lies the need for a robust, fast network with the capacity to transfer vast amounts of data. Often these networks have to be established in remote work sites, such as a mine or oil rig, well out of the reach of traditional telecoms.
Smile IT has a team with vast experience in setting up reliable networks in remote areas across a range of industries. Get in touch if we can help you with yours!
Operational Technology drives innovation, making companies more productive and helping create safer working environments for people and machines. It sits at the heart of modern industrialisation, with roles that include:
Maintianing the functionality and integrity of critical infrastructure, helping keep essential services operating reliably and efficiently. These include energy supply, water treatment, road networks and healthcare.
The huge amount of data generated by OT in industrial environments is invaluable when optimising operations. It helps identify opportunities, reduce costs and boost competitiveness.
OT allows for the continuous monitoring and adjustment of production processes. This helps them meet the required standards and specifications, and ensures outputs and products meet quality expectations.
By automating and optimising industrial processes, OT systems have led to massive leaps in efficiency across production and resource management. Real time monitoring reduces downtime and waste, while maximising output and productivity.
OT has made work sites across the world safer places to be. Systems can monitor environmental conditions, detect equipment malfunctions and create predictive maintenance schedules. Automated and immediate shutdown processes can be initiated to prevent injuries to team members and damage to machinery.
Due to its mission-critical importance and its connectivity to wider networks and the internet, OT is a high cyber security risk. With the growing IT convergence, more vulnerabilities for hackers to exploit will present themselves. It’s essential organisations take a proactive approach to protecting their operational technology. It’s not just about cyber secure networks – a comprehensive approach to site security should be taken, including:
Advocated by the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Essential Eight is a collection of mitigation strategies designed to mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks and improve an organisation’s defences. It covers approaches including multi-factor authentication, regular backups and patch applications.
As well as limiting who has access to OT systems and data, it’s essential that physical access to a worksite with sensitive OT equipment is also controlled. Security measures such as CCTV, perimeter fences with controlled access points and intrusion detection systems help keep equipment and staff, safe.
Human error is often at the heart of cybersecurity breaches. OT staff such as engineers, operators and maintenance crew need to be kept updated on the latest cyber security threats and how to spot them. Maintaining a security-conscious work culture is a powerful preventative method.
With Rajant Kinetic Mesh, you get a scalable network that works autonomously across a dynamic environment. It’s a mobile-enabled, peer-to-peer network with no single point of failure and self-healing capabilities. You get 100% resilience, which equates to uninterrupted connectivity and less downtime.
Ubiquiti Networks constantly pushes the boundary when it comes to networking technology. Their range of fibre optic solutions, antennas, security access control and camera security surveillance are built to meet the demands of any environment.
If you have any questions about operational technology or how Smile IT can help with your OT management and control, get in touch. Ring us on 1300 766 720 or drop us a line using the ‘Industrial’ form below.
