--- title: "Secure IT/OT Convergence | Control" description: "Safely manage IT/OT convergence by enforcing a strong, physical boundary between your information technology and operational technology networks. 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Discover.", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#website" }, "about": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/images/og/og-base-platform.jpg" }, "inLanguage": "en-GB", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/control-for-it-ot-convergence#breadcrumb" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/control-for-it-ot-convergence#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://fire-vault.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Secure IT/OT Convergence", "item": "https://fire-vault.com/control-for-it-ot-convergence" } ] } ] --- Recent Breaches Breaches [2026 PowerSchool 62.4M records ](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com)[2026 DISA Global Solutions 3.3M records ](https://techcrunch.com)[2026 Globe Life 850K records ](https://www.securityweek.com)[2026 Lidl GB Customer contact data ](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/11/lidl-gb-third-party-data-breach)[2026 Asahi Group Production systems disrupted ](https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/asahi-says-cyberattack-disrupted-operations-japan-2025-09-29/)[2026 Kido International 8K records ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c623d7v0e5xo)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c789e7l1z7po)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2gx8p3rzeo)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k7yy8n3g5o)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78jkev1el2o)[2026 PowerSchool 62.4M records ](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com)[2026 DISA Global Solutions 3.3M records ](https://techcrunch.com)[2026 Globe Life 850K records ](https://www.securityweek.com)[2026 Lidl GB Customer contact data ](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jun/11/lidl-gb-third-party-data-breach)[2026 Asahi Group Production systems disrupted ](https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/asahi-says-cyberattack-disrupted-operations-japan-2025-09-29/)[2026 Kido International 8K records ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c623d7v0e5xo)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c789e7l1z7po)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2gx8p3rzeo)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k7yy8n3g5o)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78jkev1el2o) [View All →](/learn/breaches) [![Firevault - offline secure storage, physically disconnected from the internet](/assets/logo-color-DBVl0KCg.png)](/) Products Solutions [Why OSS](/why-oss) More [Help](/help)[Get started](/get-started) Threat Response # Secure IT/OT Convergence Through Physical Boundary Enforcement Convergence delivers operational efficiency but destroys the air gap that protected industrial systems for decades. Control restores the physical boundary while preserving the data flows that convergence enables. Schedule a Demo[Back to Control](/solutions/control) ![Corridor of offline storage racks inside a Firevault bunker](/assets/hero-square-bunker-B6Y7Qt9r.jpg) Exposure How it worksExplore moreQuestions The exposure in numbers 01 Of OT environments now have some IT network connectivity 91% Of OT environments now have some IT network connectivity 02 Persistent IT-to-OT network paths during production Zero Persistent IT-to-OT network paths during production 03 Separation between IT and OT management planes Physical Separation between IT and OT management planes 04 IEC 62443 zone and conduit compliance evidence Full IEC 62443 zone and conduit compliance evidence The Threat ## Convergence creates pathways that industrial systems were never designed to defend. 01 ### Eroded Air Gaps The physical separation that protected OT systems for decades has been replaced with firewalls and VLANs. These logical controls are bypassed through misconfigurations, credential theft, and zero-day vulnerabilities. 02 ### Legacy System Exposure Industrial control systems running decades-old software are now reachable from IT networks. These systems cannot be patched, cannot run endpoint protection, and were never designed for network-connected operation. 03 ### Shared Management Planes IT and OT often share authentication infrastructure, jump servers, and management tools. A compromise of the IT management plane provides direct access to OT control systems. Threat Response > You cannot firewall your way to an air gap. If a packet can traverse from your IT network to your OT environment, the boundary exists only in your network diagram, not in reality. The Scenario ### Scenario: IT Compromise Reaching Industrial Control Systems A water treatment facility connects its SCADA systems to the corporate IT network for remote monitoring and reporting. An attacker compromises a corporate workstation through a phishing email and discovers the jump server used for SCADA access. Using harvested credentials, they traverse from the IT network to the OT environment, gaining access to programmable logic controllers that manage chemical dosing. With Control, the IT-to-OT boundary is physically enforced. Data flows from OT to IT for monitoring occur through the Transfer module during scheduled windows, but there is no persistent path from IT into the OT environment. The jump server is physically disconnected from OT infrastructure outside authorised maintenance windows. "We had a firewall between IT and OT with 47 rules. Our penetration testers traversed it in 3 hours. The only separation that would have stopped them was physical disconnection." IT-to-OT crossover ## How Control stops IT incidents bleeding into OT. IT and OT convergence is efficient, but it gives an IT compromise a direct road into safety-critical control systems. Control keeps the convergence operational without letting an IT incident become a process-safety incident. Mapped to ATT&CK for ICS tactics (TA0108 Initial Access, TA0109 Execution, TA0106 Lateral Movement, TA0107 Inhibit Response Function) and IEC 62443 zone and conduit requirements. 1. ST 01 IT Foothold TA0001 ◤ Attacker Compromises a corporate endpoint or engineering workstation that also has a path into the OT network. ◢ Control breaks it The conduit between IT and OT is physically severed unless an authorised operational window is open. ![FV-Firebreak module icon](/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png)Firebreak ![FV-Isolate module icon](/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png)Isolate ✕ Break here 2. ST 02 Crossover Attempt TA0108 ◤ Attacker Uses jump hosts, historians or engineering tooling to step across the IT-OT boundary. ◢ Control breaks it Cross-zone access becomes a named Relay session with explicit approval, scope and time limit. ![FV-Relay module icon](/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png)Relay ![FV-Lock module icon](/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png)Lock ![FV-Validate module icon](/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png)Validate ✕ Break here 3. ST 03 OT Reconnaissance TA0102 ◤ Attacker Enumerates PLCs, RTUs and HMIs to understand the process before acting. ◢ Control breaks it Discovery is contained within the level the session was scoped to. Field zones are not reachable as a side effect. ![FV-Isolate module icon](/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png)Isolate ✕ Break here 4. ST 04 Inhibit Safety Response TA0107 ◤ Attacker Tries to disable interlocks, alarms or safety instrumented systems so a destructive command can land. ◢ Control breaks it Safety-related changes require Execute with multi-party approval. The safety instrumented system stays beyond casual reach. ![FV-Execute module icon](/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png)Execute ![FV-Validate module icon](/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png)Validate ![FV-Lock module icon](/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png)Lock Outcome · outcome block An IT compromise stays in IT. The operational process keeps running and the safety layer is never quietly disarmed. Modules & symbols ![FV-Firebreak module icon](/assets/firebreak-icon-7zSCkB1t.png)Firebreak Physical sever ![FV-Isolate module icon](/assets/isolate-icon-B9t8fl3o.png)Isolate Zone boundary ![FV-Relay module icon](/assets/relay-icon-CVhJDRO7.png)Relay Time-bound path ![FV-Lock module icon](/assets/lock-icon-UU3vOaKE.png)Lock Named access ![FV-Validate module icon](/assets/vault-icon-CD3Pv4ri.png)Validate Integrity check ![FV-Execute module icon](/assets/execute-icon-kJl5Gtmk.png)Execute Approved action ✕ Break here Chain severed by Firevault ◤ Attacker step MITRE ATT&CK tactic Featured In [![TechRadar Pro logo](/press/techradar-pro-logo.svg) ](https://www.techradar.com/pro/uk-startup-put-physical-disconnect-switch-in-its-cloud-storage-offering-to-mitigate-ransomware-attacks-but-will-that-be-enough "Read about Firevault on TechRadar Pro") [![Yahoo Finance logo](/assets/yahoo-finance-logo-white-aNkUpCH7.png) ](https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/firevault-launches-help-businesses-directors-074500961.html "Read about Firevault on Yahoo Finance") [![Channel Insider logo](/assets/channel-insider-logo-white-CFFo4iu7.png) ](https://www.channelinsider.com/security/tools-and-platforms/firevault-security-offline-platform-offering/ "Read about Firevault on Channel Insider") [![Security Buyer logo](/assets/security-buyer-logo-white-o6oIaBWz.png) ](https://securitybuyer.com/uk-cybersecurity-startup-launches-firevault/ "Read about Firevault on Security Buyer") [![SecurityBrief logo](data:image/png;base64,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) ](https://securitybrief.com.au/story/firevault-unveils-offline-digital-vault-to-combat-rising-cyber-risks "Read about Firevault on SecurityBrief") Capabilities ## What you get with every deployment 01 ### Physical Boundary Enforcement The IT/OT boundary is enforced through physical disconnection, not firewall rules. No misconfiguration, credential theft, or zero-day can bypass a path that does not exist. 02 ### One-Way Data Diodes Monitoring data flows from OT to IT through controlled transfer mechanisms that prevent any return path from IT into the OT environment. 03 ### Separate Management Planes IT and OT management infrastructure exists on physically separate networks. Compromise of IT management systems provides no path to OT control systems. 04 ### Emergency OT Isolation A single authorised command physically severs all IT/OT connections, allowing OT systems to continue safe operation while the IT compromise is contained. 05 ### Conduit Activity Logging Every data transfer and maintenance session across the IT/OT boundary is logged on physically disconnected storage for compliance and forensic purposes. 06 ### IEC 62443 Compliance Physical zone and conduit architecture maps directly to IEC 62443 requirements, with automated evidence generation for audit and certification. Demo to Live ## Adoption Guide Step 1 #### Convergence Point Audit Map every connection between IT and OT environments, including shared management infrastructure, jump servers, historian links, and vendor access paths. Step 2 #### Zone and Conduit Design Design physically separated zones aligned to the Purdue model with controlled conduits for each authorised data flow and maintenance path. Step 3 #### Non-Critical System Pilot Deploy physical boundary enforcement on a non-critical OT segment, testing monitoring data flows, maintenance windows, and emergency isolation procedures. Step 4 #### Full OT Deployment Extend to all IT/OT boundaries with automated compliance evidence generation, continuous conduit monitoring, and integration with existing SCADA management. Step 1 #### Convergence Point Audit Map every connection between IT and OT environments, including shared management infrastructure, jump servers, historian links, and vendor access paths. Step 2 #### Zone and Conduit Design Design physically separated zones aligned to the Purdue model with controlled conduits for each authorised data flow and maintenance path. Step 3 #### Non-Critical System Pilot Deploy physical boundary enforcement on a non-critical OT segment, testing monitoring data flows, maintenance windows, and emergency isolation procedures. Step 4 #### Full OT Deployment Extend to all IT/OT boundaries with automated compliance evidence generation, continuous conduit monitoring, and integration with existing SCADA management. [Organise a Demo](/contact) ## Explore More [ ### Control for Utilities Physical isolation for power grid and utility SCADA. Learn more about Control for Utilities ](/control-for-utilities)[ ### Management Plane Exposure Isolate management interfaces from production networks. Learn more about Management Plane Exposure ](/control-for-management-plane)[ ### IEC 62443 Compliance Industrial automation security and Purdue model compliance. Learn more about IEC 62443 Compliance ](/solutions/control/frameworks/iec-62443) Questions ## Frequently Asked Can we still get real-time monitoring data from OT systems? How do engineers access OT systems for maintenance? Does this work with existing SCADA and DCS systems? How does this align with the Purdue model?