Matt Morris on New OT Managed Service for Critical Infrastructure

Matt Morris on New OT Managed Service for Critical Infrastructure

The OT environment is different from the IT environment in many ways, with proprietary and multi-vendor systems that require a specialized approach. The existing managed security services are generally inadequate as they are focused on IT rather than OT, and the lack of open standards means they are tied to a single vendor. In contrast, 1898 & Co. offers an open approach with multiple vendors and a team that can quickly zero in on any potential security threats with a swivel chair around to grab engineers who design and construct these systems

The new OT managed service by 1898 & Co. (a part of Burns & McDonnell) fills a critical void in the market by offering a unique, open, and highly specialized solution for protecting the operational technology (OT) infrastructure of critical industries.

The service, therefore, offers unique value to its clients, with a fundamental understanding of their specific requirements and architecture, and the ability to provide an open and flexible approach that can fit any client need. The biggest challenge in putting together the service is integrating the multiple products required to cover the gamut of OT infrastructure, which requires building “connective tissue” between all the different components. However, the company has released the service with three vendors initially and plans to add more in the future.

In terms of target clients, 1898 & Co. will work with both smaller communities and co-ops, as well as larger clients. The focus is on critical infrastructure industries that require specialized OT protection, and the company’s long-standing experience and expertise make them uniquely suited to provide this type of service. Overall, the OT managed service by 1898 & Co. fills a critical void in the market, providing a specialized and open approach that is tailored to the specific needs of critical industries.

This post was adapted with the assistance of ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI.