A RECENT report by Palo Alto Networks, “State of OT Security: A Comprehensive Guide to Trends, Risks, and Cyber Resilience,” reveals a concerning trend in the Philippines: over 70 percent of industrial organizations experienced cyberattacks on their operational technology (OT) environments in the past year.
These attacks, occurring with alarming frequency (monthly or weekly for nearly half of respondents), have led to operational shutdowns in 23.1 percent of organizations, resulting in lost revenue and significant remediation costs.
Despite the growing recognition of OT security as a high priority, the report highlights a disconnect between operational technology (OT) and IT teams. More than half of the respondents described their relationship as siloed or frictional, with only 17.6 percent indicating alignment. This misalignment is further reflected in the fact that only 37.3 percent of respondents reported shared responsibility for OT cybersecurity purchase decisions between the two teams.
The report also explores the ambivalent role of artificial intelligence (AI) in OT security. While 70.6 percent of respondents identified AI attacks as a critical issue, 80 percent believed AI would be key to stopping such attacks. This duality reflects the growing awareness of both the potential threats and opportunities that AI presents in the industrial cybersecurity landscape.
Furthermore, the report found that the move to cloud computing is seen as both a reinforcement and a challenge for OT security. While 92.2 percent of organizations believe cloud adoption will enhance security, 64.7 percent anticipate increased cybersecurity challenges in the next two years.
Oscar Visaya, Country Manager for Palo Alto Networks Philippines, emphasized the need for proactive risk mitigation and system resilience in light of these evolving threats. He stated, “As industrial operations undergo digital transformation in the AI era, traditional security measures are inadequate against advanced cyber threats. AI-driven defenses must be adopted to quickly analyze large data sets and detect patterns of impending threats, often before an attack occurs. Further, close collaboration between IT and OT teams is essential to ensure a unified and effective approach to cybersecurity.”
The report underscores the importance of adopting a Zero Trust approach to OT security, a strategy endorsed by over 80 percent of respondents. However, implementation rates remain low, with only slightly more than 20 percent having fully implemented Zero Trust solutions.
The findings of the Palo Alto Networks report highlight the critical need for industrial organizations in the Philippines to prioritize OT security, foster collaboration between IT and OT teams, and embrace advanced technologies like AI and Zero Trust to mitigate the growing risk of cyberattacks.
