Until a few years ago, Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) were two separate worlds with their own management and strategy. From an efficiency point of view, the IT and OT worlds were connected. This convergence, along with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), ensures facility infrastructure operations, physical security and availability. Redundancy and convergence are the benchmark for data centre uptime, unfortunately, this has inversely increased cyber risks.
Data centre availability
RISKS INVERSELY
PROPORTIONALLY INCREASED
PROPORTIONALLY INCREASED
DATA CENTRE CYBER SECURITY
Detect your vulnerabilities before others do
The majority of processors are found in embedded systems (OT), not PCs or servers (IT). OT is connected to IT and IT is connected to the internet. These connections can create vulnerabilities that pose major risks to the availability of a data centre and need to be mitigated.
Difference between IT & OT
IT is the combination of hardware and software to input, store, process, output and transmit data and the flow of digital information. OT is hardware and software that detects or causes a change through direct monitoring and control of devices and processes.
Conflicting interests
IT focuses on data processing and intellectual property. It is mainly concerned with storage, network equipment, computers and infrastructure that enable improved information storage and security. Despite sometimes conflicting interests, there has been a convergence of IT & OT within the data centre industry.
Factors that are important for the uptime of a data centre include power supply, cooling, fire, leak detection, CCTV, access control, etc. and are considered OT.
To remotely manage and maintain a data centre in real time, a data centre information management system (DCIM) must be in place and IT must be able to communicate with monitoring systems so that correct and accurate information is received. This has significantly reduced downtime and improved efficiency.
DATA CENTRE CYBER SECURITY
INTERNET
OF THINGS (IOT)
industrial internet of things (IIoT) is an extension of the internet of things (IoT) for industrial applications. IIoT goes beyond normal consumer devices and has a strong focus on machine-to-machine communication. IIoT is at the intersection of IT and OT. The convergence of IT and OT offers greater system integration in terms of automation and optimisation. The monitoring and control of physical infrastructures in critical operations is simplified through the use of smart sensors and actuators, as well as remote access and control.
SECIOR CYBER SECURITY
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