Even before digital modernisation extended out of the IT world, operational technologies (OT) had been carving their niche within organisations. Concepts such as IoT and data analytics had existed among OT deployments long before the IT crowd named them. But the rise of IT has helped reinforce, reinvent and expand those features.

Yet despite these commonalities, the two sides are not naturally compatible. IT operates in a world where protection of property and confidentiality are key priorities, leading to some delayed access to services or resources. OT, in contrast, is a 24/7 world where availability is the highest priority.