Navigating IoT & OT Cyber Security Risks for 2025

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From my discussions with partners across the Five Eyes, it's clear: IoT and OT are reshaping industries in exciting ways—but with that comes an ever-growing risk. As businesses embrace digital transformation, cybercriminals are targeting the very networks that make us smarter, faster, and more efficient. 2025 will see these risks evolve, with more complex challenges at every turn. But here’s the good news: staying ahead of the curve is possible with the right strategy.

To secure your future, make cyber security part of your core business strategy. Leverage innovation, collaborate with niche experts, and build strong partnerships to ensure your defences are as cutting-edge as the technology you’re deploying. In an interconnected world, the best defence isn’t just about protecting data—it’s about ensuring trust.

Here’s a breakdown of the key trends in IoT and OT cyber security for 2024, plus expert advice to help you secure your systems.

Five IoT & OT Cyber Security Trends for 2024

1. The Digitisation of Operational Environments As industrial systems go digital, the attack surface expands. With more IoT devices integrated into OT networks, the risk of breaches grows. Cyberattacks now have the potential to disrupt not only operations but safety too, underscoring the need for tight segmentation and access control.
2. Rise in DDoS Attacks on IoT Devices By 2030, we’ll see around 29 billion IoT devices worldwide. Unfortunately, many of these devices lack robust security, making them prime targets for Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. Protecting these devices with strong authentication and traffic filtering will be essential to preventing large-scale disruptions.
3. AI and Machine Learning for Proactive Threat Detection AI and Machine Learning are taking threat detection to the next level. By analysing vast amounts of data from connected devices, AI can spot anomalies and predict breaches before they wreak havoc. This shift to proactive security is critical for OT environments where downtime and risk are high.
4. Regulatory Compliance Push for OT Security With regulations like the NIS2 Directive in Europe, organisations must level up their OT security practices. These regulations cover a wider range of critical sectors, requiring enhanced risk management, incident reporting, and staff training. 2024 is the year to ensure your OT security strategies align with these new compliance standards.
5. Supply Chain Security High-profile breaches like the SolarWinds attack have shown the vulnerability of third-party suppliers. As IoT devices proliferate, attacks targeting vendors or their components will become more common. Strengthening supply chain security is crucial to safeguard against these growing risks.

Key Insights from the 2024 Reports: Fortinet and Beyond

• Sophisticated OT Threats: Attacks targeting critical services such as energy, water, and healthcare are becoming more advanced. As OT environments become more connected, organisations are turning to AI to proactively manage and mitigate these threats.
• Geopolitical Tensions: OT systems are increasingly seen as strategic targets for cyber warfare. Geopolitical tensions, especially in regions like Eastern Europe and the Middle East, mean that critical infrastructure is under threat like never before.
• IoT Botnets: As IoT devices grow in number, botnets are becoming a major concern. Many of these devices are poorly secured, which makes them an easy entry point for attackers. Organisations must address device security at the root level to fend off these threats.
• Evolving Attack Methods: Cybercriminals are getting more creative. With advanced social engineering and supply chain attacks on the rise, organisations must focus on continuous monitoring and robust network protections to stay ahead of these evolving threats.

How can we bridging the IT a& OT Security Gap

The merging of IT and OT systems offers huge benefits—more efficiency, more data, more innovation. But it also introduces new security challenges. In 2024, organisations need to adopt a unified security strategy that combines the best practices from both IT and OT domains.

Key Strategies for Securing IoT & OT Systems for 2025:

• Zero Trust Architecture: Every user, device, and system needs to be continuously verified before being granted access, no matter where they are in the network. This model is essential for environments where IT and OT converge.
• Device and Identity Management: With more devices connecting to OT systems, managing identities securely is crucial. Solutions like Device Authority’s KeyScaler provide lifecycle management, authentication, and secure device communication—making sure only trusted devices are part of your network.
• Risk-Based Approach: Prioritise security for your most critical assets. This includes upgrading legacy systems that may still be vulnerable to newer threats.
• Employee Training and Awareness: Social engineering is on the rise, so it’s crucial to train staff regularly to spot phishing attacks and respond to security incidents. Prevention is key.

As we move into 2025, IoT and OT security are not just about protecting infrastructure, but also about enabling innovation and growth, especially for startups and companies in niche sectors. These organisations bring fresh, agile solutions to the table, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in security. In an environment where threats evolve rapidly, knowledge-sharing and partnerships become essential. By collaborating with industry leaders, researchers, and startups, businesses can tackle emerging threats more effectively and stay ahead of the competition. Ultimately, securing IoT and OT systems is not just about reacting to risks—it’s about unlocking new opportunities. Strong partnerships and innovative solutions will ensure businesses thrive in an increasingly connected world, driving secure growth and resilient ecosystems.

At SECURE | CYBER CONNECT, we believe that tackling Cultural, Technological and Talent Acquisition challenges requires collaboration among industry stakeholders. Let’s work together to address these challenges and secure a brighter future for our industry. Connect with us today to explore how we can help you find the talent needed to protect your business and drive innovation for tomorrow.

Introducing Yossi Appleboum

Yossi is an esteemed cyber security leader with over three decades of experience in both engineering and entrepreneurship. A former member of Israel’s elite Unit 8200, Yossi has co-founded and successfully exited two cyber security startups—CyberSeal and WebSilicon—both of which developed groundbreaking solutions in the security and networking space. Following the successful exits in 2012 and 2016, Yossi continued his journey as the co-founder and CEO of Sepio, a company that focuses on addressing hardware-based risks across IT, OT, and IoT ecosystems. His unique blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial vision offers invaluable insights for those in the startup, scale-up, and venture capital spaces.

Why This Episode is a Must-Watch

This episode of the SECURE | CYBER CONNECT Podcast is packed with high-value insights for founders, investors, and security leaders navigating the complexities of the cyber security landscape. Yossi shares his experience of building and scaling cyber security ventures, offering practical advice for technology and security leaders looking to innovate and stay ahead of emerging threats. From scaling a startup to navigating venture capital and private equity, Yossi provides strategic guidance on how to successfully address the challenges that come with growth, while also ensuring security remains a top priority. Whether you’re in the startup, scale-up, or investment space, this episode delivers actionable strategies to help you thrive in an increasingly connected and complex world.

Introducing Sepio

Sepio is a leader in hardware-based cyber security, offering innovative solutions that combine machine learning, big data, and practical physics to protect against physical and supply chain threats. By focusing on Layer 1 Security, Sepio provides unparalleled visibility and control over connected devices across IT, OT, and IoT environments. This unique approach helps organisations safeguard their critical infrastructure from evolving cyber threats, particularly those targeting the hardware layer. For founders, tech leaders, and security professionals, Sepio offers a cutting-edge solution that addresses the ever-growing complexities of cyber security in today’s interconnected world.

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