Foundations of OT Visibility: Why It Matters and How to Get Started

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are the foundation of critical infrastructure, enabling safe and reliable delivery of essential services such as energy and water and industries such as manufacturing. As these OT systems grow increasingly interconnected with IT networks and external systems, they face escalating cyber risks. For organizations managing OT environments, visibility and contextual awareness are not just technical capabilities — they are foundational requirements for operational security, resilience and efficiency.

Many organizations struggle with limited or fragmented visibility into their cyber-physical systems. Without a clear understanding of what assets exist, how they operate and what is happening in real time, leaders cannot effectively protect their systems or optimize performance. This paper outlines why OT visibility is critical and provides a road map for organizations to build an effective strategy.

Importance of OT Visibility

OT visibility is the ability to observe and understand the assets, processes and communications occurring within an OT environment. This goes beyond simply knowing what devices are connected. The goal is to gain contextual awareness of the behaviors and interactions between devices, because this is necessary to identify risks, respond to emerging threats and ultimately optimize operations.

Many organizations lack a comprehensive inventory of their OT assets, particularly in environments where legacy systems and shadow devices are not capable of integrating with modern inventory management systems. These blind spots create vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. For example, safety and operational continuity might be at risk if devices are not patched or are susceptible to unauthorized remote access.

As IT and CPS systems become increasingly interconnected, the traditional separation between these environments has eroded. This convergence often leaves OT systems exposed to risks that were previously confined to IT. Well-defined and -implemented visibility provides a unified view of both environments, enabling organizations to manage these interdependencies effectively.

CPS environments face a growing range of threats, from ransomware targeting critical infrastructure to nation-states attacking industrial control systems. Real-time visibility allows organizations to detect anomalies, such as unauthorized access and unusual traffic patterns, before they can escalate into major incidents.

Beyond cybersecurity, visibility contributes to operational excellence. By monitoring system performance in real time, organizations can identify inefficiencies, prevent equipment failures and reduce downtime.

Barriers to Achieving OT Visibility

Despite its importance, achieving comprehensive OT visibility remains a challenge. Common barriers include: 

• Legacy systems. Many OT environments rely on legacy equipment that lacks built-in monitoring capabilities or is incompatible with modern tools.
• Distributed assets. In industries such as energy or transportation, OT environments often span large geographic areas, making centralized monitoring difficult.
• Limited collaboration. Misalignment between IT and OT teams can hinder efforts to implement visibility solutions that address both operational and security needs.

These barriers are not insurmountable. With a structured approach, organizations can begin to address their visibility gaps and build a strong foundation for OT security and efficiency.

How to Get Started

Organizations can take several practical steps to enhance OT visibility, laying the groundwork for a more secure and resilient environment.

Conduct an Asset Discovery Exercise
A comprehensive inventory of OT assets is the foundation of any visibility strategy. This process involves identifying all devices connected to the network, including their configurations, communication protocols and vulnerabilities. Tools such as passive network monitoring solutions can help identify devices without disrupting operations.

Establish a Baseline for Normal Operations
Understanding what "normal" looks like in an OT environment is critical for detecting anomalies. By analyzing typical network traffic, device communications and system behaviors, organizations can establish benchmarks that serve as a reference point for identifying potential issues.

Integrate IT and OT Monitoring
Visibility requires collaboration across IT and OT teams to create a unified view of the entire environment. This integration enables organizations to detect threats that cross IT-OT boundaries, such as malware moving from IT systems into OT networks.

Prioritize High-Risk Areas
Not all assets are created equal. Focus initial efforts on high-risk areas, such as devices that control critical processes or those with known vulnerabilities. This targeted approach allows organizations to address their most pressing risks while building momentum for broader visibility efforts.

Leverage Purpose-Built Tools
The tools used for IT monitoring are often insufficient for OT environments. Specialized OT visibility solutions — such as passive monitoring tools designed for industrial protocols — provide the granular insights needed to manage these environments effectively.

Conclusion

Real-time OT visibility is no longer optional for organizations managing critical infrastructure. It is the foundation for identifying risks, detecting threats and driving operational efficiency. While achieving visibility can be challenging, the benefits far outweigh the effort, enabling organizations to build a secure and resilient future.

By addressing the unique challenges of OT environments and leveraging purpose-built tools to implement tailored monitoring strategies, organizations gain the insights needed to secure operations, minimize risks and unlock new opportunities. Visibility is more than a technical goal — it is the key to operational confidence in an increasingly complex world.