OT Cybersecurity: The Missing Piece of Your Business Strategy Puzzle

Cyber adversaries target the very core of our critical infrastructure, threatening to bring operations to a standstill. The convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems is prompting Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and other cybersecurity executives to implement business-driven cybersecurity models.

As OT systems become more vulnerable to cyberattacks, forward-thinking CISOs have realized that cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it also impacts strategic planning and investment decisions. In a business-driven approach, cybersecurity is aligned with the company’s broader goals and risk management frameworks. Concepts like Cyber Risk Quantification (CRQ) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) are becoming integral to performance discussions, as organizations seek to understand the true impact of cybersecurity failures on both their operations and bottom line.

To successfully integrate cybersecurity with business strategy, cybersecurity executives must reshape how they approach risk and drive cross-organizational consensus. This involves more than technical expertise; it requires the decision-making authority to protect digital and physical assets and the business competency to keep operations profitable.

Using CALM to Optimize Business Operations

Black & Veatch’s Cyber Asset Lifecycle Management (CALM) services incorporate key business concepts including CRQ, TCO, and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). By translating industrial cybersecurity into business terms, CALM empowers cybersecurity leadership to secure the resources, authority, and consensus necessary to build and maintain resilient programs. Implementing a CALM-based program optimizes business operations in the following ways:

• Reduce Friction Between IT and OT. One of the key barriers to building industrial cybersecurity programs is the friction between IT and OT departments, which have traditionally operated independently. Roles and responsibilities can be unclear, and conflicting priorities between IT and OT teams pose challenges for program development. Additionally, critical infrastructure organizations often face budget limitations, making it difficult to implement effective cybersecurity measures. CALM services help overcome these obstacles by accounting for the financial and operational realities that organizations face.

• Simultaneously Address Programmatic and Site-Specific Needs. CALM enables organizations to develop cybersecurity programs that address both programmatic needs (such as policy development, governance, and incident response) and site-specific needs (such as asset management, vulnerability management, and system hardening). By balancing program-level and site-level aspects of cybersecurity, CALM establishes comprehensive defenses that can be implemented and maintained across all operational locations.

• Ensure Regulatory Compliance. CALM incorporates best practices and industry standards (including those set by ISA/IEC 62443, NIST CSF NIST SP 800-82, CISA, CFATS, and EPA), and ensures compliance with applicable regulations (such as NERC CIP and NIS2). This allows critical infrastructure organizations to build resilient industrial cybersecurity programs that meet the highest standards of safety and security.

• Support Business Growth and Technological Advancements. Smart technologies such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices, predictive maintenance systems, and AI-driven monitoring solutions are becoming more integrated within critical infrastructure. Black & Veatch’s CALM approach is essential for supporting innovation without compromising operational stability.

No Room for Complacency: Cybersecurity is a Lifecycle Challenge

Organizations manage assets at every stage of their lifecycle, with each stage presenting distinct cybersecurity challenges. CALM’s holistic lifecycle approach ensures that robust cybersecurity controls are in place from initial design and deployment to ongoing operations and, eventually, decommissioning. This lifecycle approach is particularly important for infrastructure assets that are going to be in operation for decades and require continuous updates and protection. CALM arms organizations with the tools needed to mitigate threats, maintain uptime, and effectively manage long-term costs.

Cybersecurity Is a Business Imperative

In today’s fast-evolving threat landscape, critical infrastructure organizations must reshape their approach to cybersecurity—treating it as an essential part of the overall business strategy. Black & Veatch’s CALM services empower critical infrastructure organizations to become better-positioned to respond to evolving threats, ensuring that both cybersecurity and business objectives are met in tandem. Learn more about Black & Veatch’s industrial cybersecurity solutions here.