Fortinet enhances OT security platform to protect critical infrastructure

Fortinet, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, announced new updates to its operational technology (OT) security platform, strengthening its capabilities to protect cyber-physical systems (CPS) and critical infrastructure. The enhanced platform now includes advanced secure networking, new security operations (SecOps) features, and expanded partnerships with leading OT vendors, reaffirming Fortinet’s commitment to safeguarding critical sectors such as energy, defense, water supply, and manufacturing.

“As more operational infrastructure becomes connected, the attack surface increases, leading to greater cyber risk. Traditional IT security tools are ineffective and often cannot be deployed in OT environments,” said John Maddison, chief marketing officer at Fortinet. “Fortinet has been building an industry-leading OT security platform for over 20 years, and today we are proud to announce many enhancements across the platform.”

New capabilities for secure OT networking

The updated platform introduces several secure networking features, such as enhanced asset identification, OT network topology improvements, and expanded virtual patching capabilities. These updates aim to shield unpatched OT assets and strengthen security against vulnerabilities. Two new ruggedized switches, designed to handle the harsh demands of industrial environments, have also been introduced. Additionally, secure remote access for contractors and auditors will be supported by the new FortiSRA feature.

Fortinet also enhanced its vehicle-specific solution, FortiExtender Vehicle, allowing secure LAN extensions from remote FortiGate firewalls for fleet management and first responders.

AI-driven SecOps to combat OT threats

Fortinet’s expanded OT capabilities now include enhanced features in its FortiSOAR platform, offering IT/OT visibility through a new dashboard and improved compliance playbooks. These tools help increase OT network visibility and improve asset management. The company’s FortiAnalyzer provides new analytics, including reports tailored to OT standards like NERC CIP and IEC 62443, further aiding regulatory compliance.

To identify unknown threats, the FortiNDR for OT now offers network behavior analysis, detecting anomalies in OT environments. In addition, Fortinet has rolled out FortiDeceptor-as-a-Service, which extends deception technology for OT and IoT, simplifying deployment for customers.

Strengthened partnerships to enhance OT security

Fortinet’s partnerships with OT vendors, including Armis, Claroty, and OTBase, have been further developed to offer deeper integration between the companies’ technologies. These partnerships provide expanded visibility into OT asset risks and streamline network operations, helping customers better protect critical infrastructure.

“Armis and Fortinet are a best-in-class OT/IoT security solution that sees, protects, and manages every critical OT asset. Our partnership enables real-time visibility into IT/OT intersection risks and maximizes policy-driven enforcement of zero-trust network access,” said Nadir Izrael, co-founder and CTO of Armis.

Customers benefit from streamlined OT security management

Several Fortinet customers, including Wunderlich-Malec Engineering and the McPherson Companies, have highlighted how Fortinet’s OT security solutions have simplified their security operations, particularly in managing large networks and scaling infrastructure.

“With Fortinet, we centralized everything and brought all the management information we need into a single pane of glass. That enables us to quickly see what is happening across all our different units,” said Dustin Fischer, director of IT at Wunderlich-Malec Engineering.

These updates reflect Fortinet’s continued investment in protecting OT environments, particularly as cyberattacks targeting OT systems rise. According to the company’s 2024 State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity Report, 73% of organizations reported an intrusion impacting their OT systems, highlighting the increasing threat landscape.

environments.