Manufacturing OT vs IT Security in Los Angeles

10/08/2025
News
Manufacturing OT vs IT Security in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to one of the most diverse manufacturing sectors in the country, spanning aerospace, food and beverage, logistics, biotech, and more. These companies keep California’s economy moving. But they’re also navigating a challenge that doesn’t get enough boardroom attention… the gap between IT and OT security.

For years, manufacturers treated IT and OT like two separate islands. IT managed the office stack- email, ERP, cloud, business systems. OT ran the production floor- machines, SCADA systems, robotics, sensors. Two different teams. Two different budgets. Two very different approaches to security.

That divide is exactly where risk creeps in.

What’s the Difference Between IT and OT?

What’s the Difference Between IT and OT

On the surface, these are different domains. But the reality in most LA manufacturing plants today? OT systems are increasingly IT systems in disguise. Think Windows-based HMIs, SCADA tied into Azure, sensors dumping data into shared networks.

And yet, many manufacturers still treat OT as the vendor’s responsibility, or as a carve‑out separate from IT. That’s a mistake.

Why IT/OT Convergence Creates New Risks

Manufacturing systems were once air‑gapped. Today, they’re connected to enterprise IT networks, the cloud, and even mobile devices. That connectivity delivers real business benefits. Better visibility, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decisions. But it also expands the attack surface.

Attackers no longer just steal data. They shut down production lines, override safety controls, and cause downtime that costs LA firms millions per day. A ransomware strain that starts in office IT can quickly pivot into the production floor if networks aren’t segmented.

For aerospace suppliers near LAX, food processors in the Valley, or biotech firms in Orange County, the stakes aren’t theoretical. Downtime means missed contracts, spoiled inventory, and regulatory scrutiny.

Executive Perspective: Why OT is IT

Our vCIO, Eric Kong, recently captured this issue well:

"OT and IT should never live on separate islands. But that’s exactly how many manufacturers treat them. Most OT systems today are IT systems in disguise. Production owns the outcome. IT manages the risk. If it connects to a network, we secure it. If it runs on a server, we manage it. No carve-outs. No exceptions."

Eric’s point is simple. OT can’t be treated as an afterthought. Security has to be layered like an onion. If OT is its own forgotten layer, it becomes an attack surface. Smart mid‑market firms in Southern California are already factoring OT security into IT budgets, financial planning, and enterprise risk management. And they’re better protected because of it.

The Business Impact of OT Security Incidents

  • Downtime costs: In aerospace, a single day offline can mean seven figures in losses. In food and beverage, spoiled product hits both revenue and brand reputation.
  • Compliance and liability: California manufacturers face strict requirements- from Cal/OSHA to defense supply chain contracts that require secure operations.
  • Reputation and trust: For medical device or biotech firms, an incident erodes credibility with regulators and customers alike.

Key Challenges in Securing OT vs IT

  1. Patching & downtime- IT systems update frequently. OT devices can’t tolerate downtime.
  2. Legacy systems- PLCs and SCADA devices often run decades old software.
  3. Visibility gaps- IT has mature logging. OT often lacks asset inventories or monitoring.
  4. Skills shortage- Few professionals in LA have true IT + OT expertise.

5-Step Roadmap for LA Manufacturers

  1. Assess your environment: Inventory OT assets, map connections, and identify vulnerabilities.
  2. Segment networks: Isolate OT from IT where possible, with firewalls and monitoring zones.
  3. Secure remote access: Use jump boxes, MFA, and session monitoring for vendor access.
  4. Adopt continuous monitoring: Deploy OT‑aware visibility tools.
  5. Develop an incident response plan: Run tabletop exercises that include OT outage scenarios.

Self‑Assessment Checklist for Executives

  • Do we have a current OT asset inventory?
  • Is OT included in our IT budget and risk planning?
  • Can IT and OT teams coordinate in a cyber incident?
  • Is vendor remote access secured and monitored?
  • Do we know the cost of downtime for our operations?

If the answer is “no” to more than two, OT may be your biggest blind spot.

Conclusion

For Los Angeles manufacturers, OT vs IT security isn’t an academic debate. It’s a business survival issue. The companies that thrive in the next decade will be the ones that stop treating OT as “production’s problem” and start managing it as part of core IT operations.

You can’t manage what you don’t acknowledge. The question is simple.

Is your OT treated like infrastructure… or an afterthought?

Consilien helps LA mid‑market manufacturers integrate OT into IT security strategies, protect uptime, and stay compliant. Contact us for a risk assessment tailored to your environment.