Migration to cloud and edge IT solutions has grown significantly in recent years. Companies are reaping significant benefits in lower infrastructure costs, more manageable software, easier sharing of data, and flexible deployment of new functionality. Industrial companies want to reap similar benefits through use of cloud and edge computing in their OT systems. This includes use of the cloud to share operational data with other corporate functions and the moving of certain operational applications, like historians and supervisory control, to the cloud. Some are also leveraging edge controllers as a means to collect and transform cloud data as well as to bring more manageable cloud functionality, like analytics, to the plant.
These developments increase the need for new OT system architectures that tightly couple traditional OT assets with new cloud and edge solutions. These developments have implications for the management of security that need to be addressed before architecture decisions are finalized.
The goal of this workshop is to help end users understand the factors driving these developments and the approaches that companies are adopting to ensure that architectural changes ensure the security of existing and new assets. This will be accomplished through a moderated discussion among end users about their company’s approach to OT cloud and edge deployments and the lessons they have learned. Session attendees will be given the opportunity to participate in the discussion through questions to the panelists and the general audience.
Leaders and decisionmakers in IT, automation, operations, product development, and business improvement can all benefit from this program. They will gain a solid understanding of cybersecurity convergence challenges and actions they can take to ensure a smooth integration of their own cybersecurity programs.