In simple terms, the main key difference between IT and OT systems is that OT is focused on behaviors and outcomes. On the other hand, IT is focused on data communication. So let us check out the difference between OT and IT to better understand this topic.
What is Operational Technology(OT)?
Operational Technology(OT) is an industry or enterprise that can use an OT network to monitor devices, various industrial processes, and industry events and make necessary adjustments. Operational technology also known as OT, is a category of computing systems that process operational data such as telecommunication, technical components, and computers. OT uses a combination of hardware and software to conduct real-time operations and identify any changes that have occurred all through the process. This can be achieved by directly controlling industrial equipment and certain events that occur within the enterprise, which increases the equipment's rate of availability and reliability.
What is Information Technology(IT)?
The term information technology(IT) describes a wide variety of hardware used in networks, including switches and cables, communication devices and protocols, and servers and software for data storage. To store manage, and transfer information typically for business applications, It networks, and IT devices cooperate. MRP and ERP systems are two instances of IT software. These software programmers operate at a high level, controlling computations, planning, and other high-level operations that are utilized to coordinate industrial processes or make commercial decisions.
OT Vs IT | Difference between IT and OT
- OT network is industrial oriented but IT network is business oriented.
- OT network mainly interacts with machines, and IT network mainly deals with information rather than machines.
- OT network is connected with the outside world whose access is not limited, IT network is limited to people who have certain privileges.
- OT has different types of data in the network: Monitoring, control, and supervisory data. On the other hand, IT has different types of data in the network, transactional voice, video, and bulky data.
- OT networks may have risks regarding the information, and IT networks may have automation risks.
- OT network works on real-time processing of data, and IT network works on transactional processing of data.
- OT network failure can result in the end of life, but IT network failure can result in loss of data.
- OT network requires network upgrades only during operational maintenance windows, IT network often requires network upgrades.
- OT has a less changing environment as the requirements are not frequently changing, and If has a frequently changing environment.
- The IT network verifies security by authenticating users and devices on the network, whereas the OT network manages physical access to any device.
- If there is any disturbance in the OT network, It will directly impact the overall business. However the IT network failure can be business impacting, and it depends on the industry.