Conventional wisdom dictates that information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) are mutually exclusive fields within the world of data processing. After all, the former deals with computing, networking and storage technologies while the latter is all about monitoring, controlling and relaying information. Yet as Industry 4.0 continues to revolutionize all aspects of information gathering and relaying, the boundary between IT and OT is fading, revealing a symbiosis in which information gathering, monitoring, storage and relaying are a seamless ongoing process.

Information Technology

IT includes the computing, networking and storage technologies used to generate, collect, store, manipulate, analyze and deliver data within and between organizations. A core characteristic of IT is its ability to be programmed and reprogrammed to satisfy the needs of users, applications and networks. Examples include both hardware, such as computers and networking equipment (e.g., switches, routers, firewalls, servers, storage arrays and backup devices), and software ranging from programs such as spreadsheets and databases to operating systems and enterprise resource planning (ERP), business intelligence (BI), customer relationship management (CRM) and manufacturing execution systems (MES).

Operational Technology

OT includes computing, networking and storage technologies used to monitor, process and relay information about and control physical processes in industrial workflows. OT is also comprised of hardware and software solutions but, unlike the virtually limitless possibilities offered by programmable IT, OT is often designed to execute a specific task, such as monitor mechanical performance, control heat or trigger emergency shutoffs.

Examples of OT range from simple location tracking sensors to programmable logic controllers (PLCs), distributed control systems (DCS), computer numerical control (CNC) systems, building automation systems (BAS) and complex industrial control systems (ICS) including the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems used to collect, analyze and visualize industrial equipment data—such as temperature, vibration and power usage—to regulate equipment in ways designed to maintain peak operation and efficiency and minimize downtime. For instance, OT can control the how much electricity is being stored in a battery, the amount of liquid pumped through a pumping system and the speed at which HVAC fans spin.

IT vs. OT

The main difference between IT and OT is how the technology is used. The primary objective for IT is collecting and analyzing information to generate awareness or regulate business processes, while the primary objective for OT is collecting and employing information to control the physical processes executed by equipment and machinery.

Another difference is that IT systems are typically able to perform essential operations within programmed functions without much human intervention, while OT has traditionally required manual operation, such as flipping a switch, pulling a lever or pressing a button. In addition, IT has historically been associated with office buildings while OT has been associated with factories, warehouses and other industrial locations.

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