OT Security Gaps Leave Manufacturers Vulnerable to Cyber Threats

Honeywell's latest report highlights concerning trends in operational technology (OT) security. Tim Ager, Head of Cybersecurity EMEA at Honeywell Technologies, emphasizes that OT maturity starts with knowing what is connected and critical to uptime. However, the report reveals a significant gap between OT security awareness and implementation.

Just 16% of organizations continuously monitor more than 75% of their building automation systems, while technologies like chillers and elevators are often overlooked. This lack of visibility can have severe consequences: an organization's worst cybersecurity incident typically halts operations for 16.2 hours, with 4% of those affected incurring costs above US$500,000 per hour.

The report also notes that manufacturing was the most targeted industry for the fifth consecutive year, accounting for 27.7% of all incidents in 2025. A staggering 99% of respondents expect AI to reshape OT security within two to three years, yet only 23% have handed threat detection to autonomous or agentic systems.

Ager stresses that maturity is multidimensional and that an organization can have strong strategies, processes, and controls while still working to improve visibility across a complex operational environment. He believes AI can function as a digital SOC analyst, identifying incidents and responding quickly with human oversight where decisions carry greater operational or safety consequences.