IT/OT-Konvergenz: Status-Quo und Umsetzungsempfehlungen

This study examines IT/OT Convergence in 31 predominantly large German companies. It presents an “IT/OT Governance Framework” as a specific model for successful convergence implementation. The analysis reveals a heterogeneous level of convergence maturity across the examined companies, the majority of which are at the beginning or in the implementation phase. Close cooperation between IT and OT is favored, but without IT completely taking over OT. An IT/OT tandem consisting of a CIO and a central OT responsible person is seen as the ideal way to take responsibility. Six specific recommendations were derived from the interviews and included in the IT/OT Governance Framework developed. These include ensuring top management support, using security as a driver, introducing a central OT responsible person, bringing IT and OT teams physically closer together, continuously demonstrating the added value of convergence, and taking a step-by-step approach to implementation.