Securing the Convergence
of IT and OT Environments
Comprehensive MDR platform protecting operational technology and enterprise networks with 24/7 expert monitoring
The New Reality of Industrial Cybersecurity
Industrial control systems that once operated in isolated networks are now connected to enterprise IT infrastructure, cloud platforms, and the internet. This convergence drives operational efficiency and enables digital transformation, but it also exposes critical infrastructure to sophisticated cyber threats designed to disrupt physical processes, compromise safety systems, and extort organizations through operational coercion.
The Cl0p ransomware group alone has compromised over 690 industrial facilities. Nation-state actors are developing malware specifically designed to manipulate industrial protocols. And recent attacks demonstrate adversaries weaponizing safety systems to create physical hazards that force ransom payments.
Traditional IT security approaches fail in operational technology environments. OT systems require specialized expertise, purpose-built monitoring platforms, and response procedures that prioritize safety and availability. PAGO Networks delivers comprehensive OT security through our proven phased methodology, unified IT/OT MDR platform, and global experience protecting critical infrastructure.
Convergence Crisis: Where IT meets OT
Ransomware Evolution: From Data to Physical Systems
Ransomware attacks against operational technology have increased by 46% in the first quarter of 2025. Unlike traditional ransomware that simply encrypts files, these attacks manipulate control systems to disrupt physical processes, creating safety concerns that compel faster payment of ransoms.
The Cl0p ransomware group emerged as the most active threat actor targeting industrial systems, responsible for over 690 incidents affecting manufacturing and critical infrastructure organizations. These attacks often begin through traditional IT vectors but quickly pivot to operational technology networks, exploiting the convergence points where enterprise systems connect to industrial controls.
Recent analysis of industrial ransomware reveals a disturbing trend toward weaponization of safety systems. The 2024 attack on a European chemical plant demonstrated how adversaries could manipulate safety instrumented systems, potentially creating physical hazards that force organizations to pay ransoms to restore safe operations. This represents an evolution from financial extortion to physical coercion.
46%
Increase in OT ransomware attacks (Q1 2025)
690+
Industrial incidents by Cl0p group alone
47%
Of OT attacks originate from IT networks
OT Management Maturity
Incident Response Coordination Failures
Most organizations maintain separate incident response teams for IT and OT environments. These teams use different tools, follow different procedures, and operate under different priorities. When an incident spans both domains, as convergence incidents inevitably do, coordination breaks down.
Can your organization effectively coordinate incident response across IT and OT domains?
Why Traditional Cybersecurity Falls Short in OT
Standard cybersecurity tools and practices often prove inadequate or even dangerous when applied to operational technology environments. Can you install endpoint detection and response software on a PLC that controls a water treatment facility?
The answer reveals the fundamental mismatch between IT security approaches and OT operational requirements. Traditional security measures assume systems can be taken offline for patching, rebooted for updates, and monitored with agent-based tools that consume system resources.
IT Security Priorities (CIA)
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Confidentiality - Protecting sensitive data
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Integrity - Ensuring data accuracy
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Availability - Maintaining system uptime
OT Security Priorities (ARS)
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Availability - Continuous operation is paramount
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Reliability - Consistent, predictable performance
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Safety - Protection of human life and assets
Rethinking the Air Gap in OT Security
Security Threats Commonly Faced by Manufacturers
PAGO MDR customers in manufacturing are spread across Korea, ASEAN, China, North America, and Europe. Though geographically distant and culturally different, they show common patterns of threat cases.
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Shared major accounts: administrator accounts shared internally and externally, leading to leaks
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IT to OT connectivity threats: intrusions into OT through IT networks
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Non-isolated OT environments: risks from OT environments already accessible by multiple routes
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Ransomware attacks: shutdown of production networks, with encryption and destruction of IT data needed for manufacturing
Pain Point
Electronics manufacturer B, operating global branches, suffered an account takeover of an IT system administrator at its Vietnam plant. The attacker then moved into the OT equipment network, showing lateral movement signs and causing system failures. The existing security setup only raised partial system alerts, without showing the full attack flow, and could not prepare against the intrusion.
PAGO’s Solution
PAGO immediately deployed the integrated analysis hub (Stellar Cyber Open XDR) in IT and OT, analyzing distributed traffic from Vietnam, India, and Korea headquarters. Unauthorized access, malware downloads, internal scanning, port misuse, and reuse of valid commands after account theft were automatically correlated into scenarios and visualized. These were passed to PAGO DeepACT to connect the full process of detection, isolation, and forensics. On OT devices, Aurora Protect EPP was applied to legacy OS and SentinelOne EDR to modern OS, blocking spread without harming equipment availability.
Implementation Effect
The attacker tried to dominate the internal network by bypassing detection with stolen admin rights. But Stellar Cyber NDR and Open XDR correlation identified the attack flow in real time, and factory-level isolation stopped further spread. In addition, AI EPP/EDR was deployed to OT production networks, handling both infiltrated threats and abnormal endpoint behavior. Company-wide detection policies were then distributed through PAGO DeepACT. A unified MDR environment with consistent detection and response standards was established across global branches.
Protect Your Critical Infrastructure
Implement comprehensive IT/OT security that protects operations without disrupting productivity.
Free Incident Response
Our Free Threat Cleaning Service is provided at no cost and can be requested through a simple application process. Address active security risks, restore system integrity, and strengthen your operational stability. Submit your request today and a PAGO specialist will contact you to guide the next steps.
OT Security Consultation
Effective OT security requires specialized expertise and a structured assessment approach.
Evaluate your IT and OT convergence risks and build a protection strategy tailored to your critical infrastructure. Schedule a consultation with the PAGO team to get started.