Hackers gain control of a chemical plant’s furnace control system. They tamper with the temperature settings and cause an explosion. The consequences of an incident like that can be catastrophic, especially since 9.3 million people reside within a 10-kilometre radius of the average chemical plant in the US.
Targeting operational technology (OT) systems has become a typical tactic for bad actors. Cybercriminals and nation-state actors see these critical assets as an open invitation to disrupt operations, cause physical damage and even put public safety at risk.