Government Accountability Office
Operational technology systems control processes or production, and are often used in critical infrastructure—e.g., a system of sensors, controllers, and actuators that open and close the valves in oil pipelines. Cyberattacks pose a significant threat to these systems.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency provides technical assistance to help critical infrastructure owners and operators address those cyber risks. But owners and operators had some challenges working with the agency. For example, there isn’t always enough staff with the necessary skills.
What GAO Found
Operational technology (OT) systems and devices are used to control, among other things, distribution processes (e.g., oil and natural gas pipelines) and production systems (e.g., electric power generation). Figure 1 shows the key components of an OT system using a pipeline system as an illustrative example.
