Targeting Operational Technology: Understanding the Attacker's Perspective

The OT Security Paradox

Industrial organizations across North America are investing heavily in operational technology security: deploying advanced firewalls, implementing monitoring systems, and establishing comprehensive protocols. But without knowing how skilled attackers actually attack these environments, there can be fundamental gaps in your defensive strategy. Many organizations invest in security tools based on assumptions about how attacks unfold, but these assumptions may not align with how sophisticated adversaries actually operate. This disconnect creates a false sense of security.  

OT environments operate under unique constraints. Unlike IT systems designed for flexibility, operational technology prioritizes uptime and stability.  Additionally, OT systems which once were isolated are now increasingly connected to corporate IT and cloud platforms, introducing unprecedented vulnerability vectors. Attackers understand and exploit these constraints within the OT sector.  

Why Red Team Insights Matter

The industrial landscape has transformed. Legacy systems that were never designed to be networked now communicate across enterprise infrastructure. Security teams must protect decades-old hardware, operating systems and software that cannot be easily patched. Supply chain complexity, remote access expansion, and converged networks all create new attack pathways.  

Defensive teams operate with incomplete information. They know their systems and policies, but not how an attacker would actually compromise them. Red team insights bridge the gap between defensive assumptions and offensive reality, asking critical questions such as:

• What's the path of least resistance?
• Where are the security model's weak assumptions?
• How can multiple small vulnerabilities chain into critical compromise?

By understanding offensive techniques, defenders shift from reacting to anticipating threats, which can be the difference between surviving an attack and preventing it.

How Attackers Actually Approach OT

By understanding the attackers’ patterns, defenders can prioritize protections and implement controls that address actual adversary tactics.  Attackers can use the following steps to gain entry into your OT systems:

• Reconnaissance is often the most revealing phase. Skilled attackers thoroughly gather intelligence through open-source research, network scanning, and social engineering. They map organizational structure, identify exposed systems, and study outdated software versions.  
• Vulnerability identification focuses on known gaps. Rather than seeking zero-day exploits, attackers target unpatched vulnerabilities, particularly effective in OT environments where patching cycles are lengthy and legacy systems may lack patches entirely.
• Initial access is frequently mundane. Phishing emails, weak credentials, unpatched applications, and exposed remote access points are common entry vectors. An attacker might compromise a contractor's laptop or trick an operator into opening a malicious attachment.
• Lateral movement exploits OT network design. Industrial networks often assume internal trust with minimal segmentation and weak authentication between systems. An attacker who compromises one low-value system can move freely throughout the environment, discovering critical assets and mapping topology.  
• Persistence and escalation follow predictable patterns. Attackers establish multiple backdoors, escalate privileges, and study operational behavior to avoid detection. They may spend weeks inside networks before achieving their objectives, which can include stealing data, disrupting operations, or causing safety incidents.

Mark Your Calendar

If you’d like to learn more about the role that Red Teaming can play in your OT security, join us for our webinar.

Event: Targeting Operational Technology: A Red Team Perspective 
Date: December 4, 2025 and on-demand afterward.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn how attackers think, move, and operate within OT infrastructure.