Policymakers consider new incentives for OT security.

Policymakers and federal agencies are considering new incentives for operational technology (OT) security, in hopes of getting critical infrastructure companies to prioritize cybersecurity and replace old technologies, SC Media reports.

The House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on the topic Thursday. Representative Yvette Clarke, chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation, said that focusing on IT systems at the cost of OT systems “is simply not an option in today’s threat landscape, as OT becomes more internet connected, integrated with IT systems and attractive to our adversaries.”

Many OT systems are outdated, running either old software or unpatched software, which allows for hackers to easily target the systems, as even the most minor change can cause significant disruptions to necessary services. Michael Dransfield, a senior technical executive for control systems cybersecurity at the NSA, highlighted the increasing age in workers familiar with OT security, which has caused many companies to transition to vulnerable automated systems.