Manufacturing OT
Separate the network that runs the business from the network that runs the machines, then control every path between them.
OT and IT have different security assumptions. IT expects regular patching, antivirus, MFA and modern operating systems. OT often cannot be patched, runs legacy protocols, and was designed to be isolated by air gap. Segmentation lets OT keep running while IT gets the security controls it needs, and it prevents a single compromised office PC from becoming a path to a production controller.
Segmentation
OT, IT, Wi-Fi, guest and cameras are separated by VLANs and firewalls, with only required traffic crossing. A problem in one segment cannot walk into the others.
Many machine controllers run Windows versions the vendor will not certify for patches. The realistic answer is not to argue with the vendor; it is to isolate the device so tightly that its exposure is minimal.
That means a dedicated VLAN, a narrow firewall rule, no internet, no direct SMB browsing, and monitoring that can spot unexpected traffic.
A well-segmented plant survives ransomware better because the infection has fewer paths to travel. Even if the office is locked, the line may be able to keep running while recovery happens elsewhere.
Common questions
Only if it is done without understanding the traffic. We document required flows before changing rules, then test with the vendor or operator present.
Start with visibility: inventory devices by MAC, VLAN and function, identify the critical traffic flows, then move devices into VLANs in planned phases with rollback windows.
We review your network, security posture, cloud tenant and recovery plan, then hand you a plain-language report of what we found and what it means for the business.
