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 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 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.
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
📝 Must-Read OT/ICS Security Blogs
📄 Whitepapers & Case Studies Worth Your Time
📚 Recommended Books for OT/ICS Security Professionals
👥 OT Cybersecurity Experts to Follow
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:
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.