As the final days of 2025 wind down, manufacturing and plant leaders have a valuable window to reset, refocus, and strengthen their operational technology (OT) security strategies before 2026 begins. It’s also the time of year when many teams finally get room to plan their learning priorities for the year ahead.
Given today’s escalating threat landscape, where legacy equipment, flat networks, and limited visibility remain the norm, OT security must remain a top priority for every manufacturer.
Most equipment inside industrial environments was designed decades ago, long before modern cyber threats existed. These systems were never built with authentication, segmentation, logging, or continuous monitoring in mind. As a result, they have become some of the easiest and most lucrative targets for cyber adversaries.
Manufacturing Remains the #1 Target for Ransomware
Manufacturing has held the top spot for ransomware attacks for four consecutive years. According to Black Kite’s 2025 Manufacturing Research Report, the sector accounted for 22% of all ransomware incidents between April 2024 and March 2025.
The reason is simple: disrupting production creates downtime, and downtime creates pressure to pay.
With attackers increasingly targeting ICS/OT environments, leaders must understand the vulnerabilities, risks, and defensive strategies unique to industrial networks.
The Growing Focus on OT/ICS Cybersecurity
The positive news? Awareness and education around OT and ICS cybersecurity have never been stronger. Over the past decade, practitioners, vendors, government agencies, and thought leaders have contributed a wealth of research, frameworks, and tools designed to help teams build more resilient operations.
To help accelerate your learning as you head into 2026, we’ve curated some of the best websites, blogs, whitepapers, books, and experts shaping the OT cybersecurity landscape.
Top Resources to Learn About OT & ICS Security
Use the list below as part of your own learning plan—or share it with your engineering, operations, and security teams.
🔗 Best OT/ICS Security Websites
- Dark Reading – ICS/OT Security
https://www.darkreading.com/ics-ot-security - SANS Institute Security Resources
https://www.sans.org/security-resources - Industrial Cyber
https://industrialcyber.co/ - SecurityWeek – ICS/OT
https://www.securityweek.com/category/ics-ot/
📝 Must-Read OT/ICS Security Blogs
- IT vs OT Security: Key Differences In Cybersecurity (Claroty)
https://claroty.com/blog/it-and-ot-cybersecurity-key-differences - Navigating Manufacturing Cybersecurity to Protect Critical Systems (Claroty)
https://claroty.com/blog/navigating-manufacturing-cybersecurity-to-protect-critical-systems - Operational Technology Security Poses Inherent Risks for Manufacturers (Dark Reading)
https://www.darkreading.com/ics-ot-security/operational-technology-security-poses-inherent-risks-for-manufacturers
📄 Whitepapers & Case Studies Worth Your Time
- 4 Reasons OT Requires a Different Approach to Security (Claroty)
https://claroty.com/resources/datasheets/4-reasons-operational-technology-requires-a-different-approach-to-security - Fortifying Global Manufacturing (Claroty Case Study)
https://claroty.com/resources/case-studies/fortifying-global-manufacturing - State of CPS Security: OT Exposures 2025
https://claroty.com/resources/reports/state-of-cps-security-ot-exposures-2025 - The Five ICS Cybersecurity Critical Controls (SANS)
https://www.sans.org/white-papers/five-ics-cybersecurity-critical-controls
📚 Recommended Books for OT/ICS Security Professionals
- Practical Industrial Cyber Security: ICS, Industry 4.0 & IIoT — Charles J. Brooks & Philip A. Craig Jr.
- Sandworm — Andy Greenberg
- Implementing IEC 62443: A Pragmatic Approach to Cybersecurity — Medoff & O’Brien
- Getting Started in Industrial (ICS/OT) Cyber Security — Mike Holcomb
- Industrial Cybersecurity: Case Studies and Best Practices — Steve Mustard
👥 OT Cybersecurity Experts to Follow
- Aaron C. Crow — PrOTect IT All Podcast
- Dan Gunter — Insane Cyber
- Danielle Jablonski — CISA
- Dawn Capelli — Dragos (Former CISO, Rockwell Automation)
- Jason Christopher — EIP, SANS
- Mike Holcomb — Fluor
- Pascal Ackerman — 1898 & Co.
- Robert M. Lee — Dragos
- Tim Conway — SANS
Preparing Your OT Security Strategy for 2026
Whether your organization is just getting started or is maturing a multi-layered OT security program, now is the perfect time to:
- Assess your current OT/ICS attack surface
- Evaluate segmentation and access controls
- Strengthen vulnerability and patch management
- Align with frameworks like IEC 62443
- Improve OT/IT collaboration and accountability
- Develop incident response plans specific to OT environments
Threats aren’t slowing down—but neither is innovation. With the proper education, tools, and partnerships, manufacturers can significantly reduce cyber risk without disrupting production.
Tell Us Your Go-To OT Security Resources
Where do you learn about OT security?
Drop your favorite blogs, influencers, or publications in the comments—we’ll update this list with community recommendations.
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