Digital transformation can seem daunting, whether inside an organization or in the industry at large. Let us explore those challenges as IT and OT converge with new technologies to help industries overcome them.
The industrial sector is under pressure as never before to improve efficiency and productivity. At the same time, it must reduce environmental impact and costs. Increasingly, these goals can only be met by integrating information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) to create a converged network.
Convergence is not a new concept, but it has come to the fore in recent years as industries have sought to use IT systems to control and monitor OT processes. In the past, IT and OT systems were usually developed and operated separately, with little or no interaction between them. However, as industries have become more reliant on technology to improve performance, the need for integration has become more pressing.
There are many benefits to convergence, including improved visibility of assets and operations, reduced downtime, and increased efficiency. In addition, convergence can help industries meet regulatory requirements and improve safety. However, convergence is not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is aligning the different cultures of IT and OT. Historically, these two disciplines have had different priorities and approaches. For example, IT departments are typically more focused on innovation while OT departments are more concerned with stability and uptime. Another challenge is integrating legacy systems into a converged network. Legacy systems are often not compatible with newer technologies and may need to be replaced or upgraded.
Despite the challenges, convergence is inevitable as industries strive to meet the ever-increasing demands placed upon them.
Predictions for the Future
The future of IT and OT convergence is promising for industries. There are many benefits that can be achieved by integrating these two systems, including increased efficiency, productivity, and security. Here are three predictions for the future of this technology:
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· More and more industries will start to adopt IT and OT convergence
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· Wireless technologies will become increasingly commonplace in industrial settings
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· Cloud computing will play a significant role in enabling IT and OT convergence
Why Should You Care about Convergence?
As industries continue to become more digital, the lines between IT and OT are blurring. This convergence is resulting in new opportunities for organizations to increase efficiency and optimize operations. Four reasons why you should care about convergence:
Increased Efficiency:
By converging IT and OT, industries can take advantage of the best of both worlds to increase efficiency and optimize their operations. For example, data from OT can be used to improve decision-making in IT and vice versa.
Improved Decision-Making:
The increased availability of data from both IT and OT systems provides a more holistic view that can be used to make better decisions about operations.
Enhanced Security:
Converging IT and OT can help identify security risks early and mitigate them before they cause harm.
Greater Flexibility:
Convergence enables industries to be more flexible in how they use technology to meet their specific needs. For example, by converging IT and OT systems, an industry might implement a lean manufacturing model that requires less inventory and fewer resources overall.
As the IoT becomes a big part of the industrial internet of things (IIot), the number of connected devices will also increase exponentially. For industries, this means that there will be an ever-increasing amount of data that needs to be managed and stored. It also indicates that there will be more possibility for security breaches as more devices provide entry points for hackers. Industries need to plan how to manage this increased data load and protect their systems from attacks.
Technological advances are steadily turning the world’s industries upside down. Such is the case with Manufacturing as we are witnessing a full-scale convergence between IT and OT with a strong focus on a secured path to converge.
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Article By: Raakhee Bose