Today’s enterprises must navigate two different realms: the rapidly changing digital world and the well-established world of operational technology (OT). These environments used to operate in silos and didn’t overlap. OT systems, like SCADA controls and manufacturing equipment, were air-gapped and rarely connected to the internet. But cloud-native tools, automation, real-time data processing, and now multiple levels of AI have all contributed to the rapid evolution of OT systems, and that separation is now disappearing fast.
OT/IT Convergence Is Expanding the Attack Surface
As more OT systems connect with IT networks to enable smarter operations, the security attack surface becomes significantly more complex. Suddenly, devices that were never designed with cybersecurity in mind—like industrial controllers and sensors—are exposed to threats like malware, ransomware, and unauthorized access.
Why IT-Centric Security Tools Fall Short for Protecting OT
While there have been significant advancements in modern IT cybersecurity such as cloud-delivered threat protection, AI-driven anomaly detection, and zero-trust frameworks – the same tools are difficult to apply to the operational technology domain and require significant adaptation to address the unique constraints, legacy protocols, and real-time operational demands of OT networks. OT systems often run legacy protocols, lack user-based identity, and must maintain strict uptime, making it difficult to apply IT-style security policies or deploy agent-based controls. This results in blind spots and inconsistent protection across the enterprise.
OT systems have increasingly become targets for cyberattacks. Recent reports highlight the prevalence of these security incidents:
- Global Trends: Fortinet’s 2023 report indicates that 75% of OT organizations worldwide faced at least one intrusion in the past year, with malware and phishing being the most common attack vectors. GlobeNewswire
- High Incidence of OT Attacks: As per Palo Alto Networks, in Singapore, 73% of industrial organizations experienced at least one OT cyberattack in 2023, with over 35% resulting in operational shutdowns. ETCIO.com
- Increase in IoT/OT Malware: Zscaler observed a 400% year-over-year increase in IoT and OT malware attacks, with the manufacturing sector being the most targeted. Zscaler
Securing OT/IT Convergence Requires a New Mobile Foundation
As OT systems become digitally connected and integrate with enterprise IT environments, the wireless network becomes a critical control point for security, segmentation, and visibility. Traditional Wi-Fi and public cellular networks lack the deterministic performance, seamless mobility, and granular security controls required for industrial-grade OT/IT convergence.
They struggle to provide:
- Deterministic performance including ultra-reliable low-latency for time- sensitive industrial automation systems.
- Granular segmentation and network slicing to isolate critical OT assets & workloads.
- Real-time visibility and control over connected machines, sensors, and mobile users.
These challenges are especially acute in large industrial campuses, logistics yards, and utility substations—environments where machines, field workers, and infrastructure must stay securely connected while in motion or spread across wide areas.
In short, converging IT and OT safely isn’t just a cybersecurity problem—it’s a network architecture problem. You can’t protect what your network can’t see, segment, or control.
From Private Mobile Networks (PMNs) and Mobile Cloud: A Better Way to Connect + Secure OT/IT Convergence
Private mobile networks (PMNs)—including private LTE and 5G—are emerging as complementary to Wi-Fi, offering enhanced coverage, reliability, and control in environments where OT and IT must operate together.In contrast to legacy wireless networks, PMNs offer dependable coverage across industrial campuses, outdoor locations, and mobile workforces, stronger isolation for critical infrastructure, and SIM-based identity for device-level control.
Key OT/IT convergence issues are directly addressed by these capabilities:
- They allow deterministic connectivity for real-time OT systems
- They enable identity-aware access for both legacy OT assets and modern IT endpoints
- They support scalable segmentation to prevent lateral threats between zones
However, traditional PMN deployments still come with significant friction. Many depend on telco-grade complexity, static provisioning models, and on-premises cores — requiring tight coordination between IT, OT, and network teams. The result? A solution that’s powerful on paper but often too cumbersome to deploy, scale, or adapt securely.
Mobile cloud-based PMNs eliminate these barriers by decoupling the control plane from the physical site, enabling centralized orchestration, dynamic provisioning, and seamless scalability across distributed OT and IT environments. This modern architecture simplifies deployment, enhances security, and makes it easier to enforce consistent policy and segmentation—even as devices move between sites.
How Highway 9 Mobile Cloud Enables Secure, Scalable OT/IT Convergence
With Highway 9 Mobile Cloud, security isn’t bolted on — it’s built in.
Highway 9’s cloud-native architecture allows real-time policy enforcement by decoupling the control plane from the data plane—enabling centralized policies to be pushed and enforced instantly at the edge, wherever devices connect.
By dynamically allocating policies according to roles, locations, or device types, this architecture streamlines segmentation and eliminates the need for manual configuration. Additionally, it provides AI-powered insight into network traffic patterns and device behavior, facilitating ongoing monitoring and adaptive security.
By eliminating the deployment and security challenges that impede conventional solutions, Highway 9 reimagines private cellular as a cloud-native, fully managed service. It brings network and security together in one integrated platform:
Highway 9’s cloud-native architecture allows real-time policy enforcement by decoupling the control plane from the data plane—enabling centralized policies to be pushed and enforced instantly at the edge, wherever devices connect.
By dynamically allocating policies according to roles, locations, or device types, this architecture streamlines segmentation and eliminates the need for manual configuration. Additionally, it provides AI-powered insight into network traffic patterns and device behavior, facilitating ongoing monitoring and adaptive security.
By eliminating the deployment and security challenges that impede conventional solutions, Highway 9 reimagines private cellular as a cloud-native, fully managed service. It brings network and security together in one integrated platform:
- Built-in SIM-based Identity and Access Control: Authenticate every device—worker tablets, IoT sensors, AGVs—at the point of connection.
- Real-Time Segmentation and Policy Enforcement: Dynamically isolate and protect OT assets without needing static firewall rules or VLANs.
- Edge Visibility for IT and OT: See and manage all connected devices—industrial and IT—in a single interface, with NOC/SOC integration.
- Zero-Trust Connectivity Across Sites and Devices: Apply the same security posture across remote facilities, field teams, and mobile equipment—no SD-WAN required.
Highway 9’s Mobile Cloud enables secure IT/OT separation using over-the-air encrypted industrial mobile zones aligned with the Purdue Security Model. Each zone (Enterprise, Production, and Safety) supports specialized mobile applications, such as IT apps, logistics tools, sensor devices, and safety systems — ensuring secure, role-specific access across critical infrastructure sectors such as oil and gas, pharma, and energy.
IT/OT Security: Industrial Mobile Zones
Real-World Examples with Highway 9
- Utilities: Field workers access OT systems securely during outages or emergencies with private mobile coverage.
- Warehouses: Autonomous vehicles and IoT devices operate with consistent mobile connectivity and strict access control.
- Roaming workers: Security teams or maintenance staff move across zones without security holes—identity and policy follow them.
No More Trade-Offs: Highway 9 Unifies Mobile Connectivity and Security
Highway 9 eliminates the need to choose between security and connectivity in converged OT/IT environments. This innovative solution combines high-performance wireless networking with comprehensive security features, allowing enterprises to scale confidently. IT and OT teams gain shared visibility, policy enforcement, and peace of mind—at scale. Highway 9 represents real integration of networking and security, paving the way for a secure and connected operational future.
Discover how our private cellular network helped a flooring manufacturer reduce downtime and improve productivity.
