Reinventing OT Security with Threat-Informed Defense

Threat-informed defense for operational technology is transforming how industries protect critical infrastructure. Traditional reactive models, built around indicators of compromise (IoCs), can no longer keep pace with cybercriminal networks that now function like sophisticated businesses, armed with AI, reconnaissance-as-a-service, and modular attack capabilities.

In this climate, organizations are adopting a more intelligence-driven, proactive approach. Instead of waiting for a breach to occur, defenders are shifting to a strategy that turns threat intelligence into action through continuous testing and improvement. This is especially vital in sectors where IT and OT intersect, such as energy, utilities, and manufacturing, where a single intrusion can have national-level consequences. In 2024 alone, OT cyberattacks rose by 300% in North America, often fueled by attackers exploiting outdated systems and expanding attack surfaces.

At the center of this new approach is the MITRE model, which establishes a continuous loop where intelligence drives testing, testing validates defenses, and the results feed back into stronger strategies. This cycle helps security teams evolve alongside adversaries instead of chasing after them.

A threat-informed defense framework weaves together several critical components. Real-time threat intelligence provides context on adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures, while testing through Red, Blue, and Purple team exercises ensures those insights translate into measurable resilience. Detection engineering adjusts defenses to identify evasive threats targeting operational technology, and automation reduces response times and strengthens coordination between IT and OT environments. Perhaps most importantly, this approach thrives on collaboration.

As the digital and physical worlds continue to converge, the security of operational technology can no longer be left to static protections or reactive measures. The shift from information to action: operationalizing intelligence, continuously testing defenses, and automating response, offers a path toward resilience that meets the speed and scale of modern threats.

Manky, Derek. 2025. “Threat-Informed Defense for Operational Technology: Moving from Information to Action.” CSO Online. April 2.

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Reinventing OT Security with Threat-Informed Defense