Strong password policies secure OT systems from cyber threats

Operational technology (OT) interacts with critical real-world infrastructure, powering everything from power plants to industrial facilities. These environments are obvious targets for cyberattacks.

See also: Cybersecurity of submarine cables: protecting critical infrastructure

OT is a broader concept than IT, describing the systems, both software and hardware, that support industrial environments. This means that OT works directly with the physical world: things like Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems or Industrial Control Systems (ICS).

While there is significant overlap with IT, the priorities are very different. As the UK’s National Cyber ​​Security Centre (NCSC) notes, cybersecurity for IT has traditionally been concerned with the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information, while OT priorities are often security, reliability and availability, as there are clear physical risks associated with OT failure or malfunction.

OT environments are not only tempting targets for criminals, they are also uniquely vulnerable. The hardware and software in these environments are often outdated and resource-constrained. In addition, IT and OT are increasingly intertwined, creating the potential for criminals to exploit user credentials or reused passwords and expand their attacks. The Internet of Things (IoT) introduces a new layer of connected systems that naturally increases the attack surface.

There are also unique challenges when it comes to passwords. As in IT, passwords remain a core security function, even as users implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and other complementary approaches. However, the OT sector faces heightened risks and unique risks compared to IT.

See also: Surfshark: Europe at the top of digital security

Sharing credentials can allow malicious actors to extend their threat, even moving from IT systems to OT and physical infrastructure. The nature of OT work, especially in remote infrastructures, can see people sharing workstations, increasing overall vulnerabilities.

Often, vendors and other third parties will need to access the OT environment remotely, which may include specialists working on support or maintenance contracts. Such remote access paths can introduce new vulnerabilities that need to be protected.

Large infrastructure investments in sectors such as energy or industry are often made with long-term operations in mind, not necessarily cybersecurity requirements. Some of the systems used in the OT environment may have been installed years or even decades ago, creating opportunities for modern, sophisticated cybercriminals.

To reduce risk, it is vital for OT environment operators to build a strong foundation by adopting best practices for password policies. Password security is just as important in OT environments as it is in IT, and can be even more crucial given the potentially life-threatening consequences that could result from an outage or outage.

See also: New Applications for Digital Security and Cyber ​​Defense 2026 

Key password best practices for OT include:

– Password length: This is the most important factor in password security, especially as criminals develop brute-force attacks to easily crack predictable choices.

– Password Rotation: Leaving a password unchanged for long periods of time gives criminals more opportunities to crack it. A policy of regularly changing passwords is one way to address this problem, although the exact frequency depends on the organization. It is also important to practice good password hygiene — for example, ensuring that old passwords are not reused.

– Password vaults: These store information in encrypted form and are often used to protect accounts shared by multiple users. They are usually protected with additional mechanisms, such as hardware tokens.