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October 2026 Issue
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From the Editor: Keeping Up with OT Cybersecurity Trends
Welcome to the October 2026 issue of the International Society of Automation’s online magazine, Automation.com Monthly, the annual roundup of OT Cybersecurity Trends. Learn how to secure connected legacy systems, prepare to resist quantum-computer-enabled decryption, manage end-of-life IoT devices, and more. Discover what the EU Cyber Resilience Act means for asset owners and automation suppliers. Access global research on industrial cybersecurity vulnerabilities, mitigations, and protection strategies. Discover resources for staying up to date on OT cybersecurity strategies at every level.
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Features
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Securing America’s Water Systems: From Malicious Cyber Activity to Measurable Risk Reduction
Recent incidents have accelerated efforts to help water utilities improve their cybersecurity posture. One of the most significant is Project Watershed 250. -
Cybersecurity Strategies for Managing End-of-Life Industrial IoT Devices
Organizations that establish strong life cycle management practices position themselves to adapt as threats evolve and technology advances. -
OT Cybersecurity's New Front Line: Securing Legacy Systems in a Connected Industrial Environment
For years, cybersecurity strategies in manufacturing focused primarily on protecting corporate IT systems while keeping production environments largely isolated from external networks. That model is being challenged as manufacturers create more connections between operational technology (OT) and enterprise systems to support business-wide initiatives. -
A Practical Path to Post-Quantum Readiness in Operational Technology
How to develop an OT cybersecurity roadmap to transition to PQC algorithms designed to resist quantum-computer-enabled decryption. -
Why Johnny Can’t Authenticate, But Asset Owners Can Secure OT Deployments
Following the creation of CISA guidance for asset owners, a group of authors created a document for automation suppliers about how they might improve their OT cybersecurity offerings. OPC UA brings strong cybersecurity protections to the entire automation industry. -
A Backup Is Not a Recovery Plan: Measuring What It Really Takes To Restore OT After an Incident
In addition to a successful backup, nine conditions determine whether OT recovery takes hours, days or weeks. -
Protecting Siemens S7 PLCs Starts with Architecture
A controller connected to the Internet is exposed by design. The practical response is architectural: close the comm path and move process data through a controlled connection -
Exploring Gateway Architectures for Quantum-Safe Industrial Networks
Operational technology systems are not ready for the recent NIST cybersecurity standards. Given the constraints, cryptographic processing at network boundaries rather than on endpoints may be the answer.
Navigating CRA
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The Cyber Resilience Act: Compliance Starts with Product Security, Not Documentation
Implementing the CRA is an opportunity to achieve higher levels of product security maturity by actively anticipating and preparing to address security issues that may arise throughout a product’s lifecycle. -
When EU Cybersecurity Regulation Crosses the Swiss Border
How will aligning Switzerland’s regulations with the CRA impact Swiss manufacturers and customers? -
An Opportunity for Simultaneous Business Growth and Reduction of Cybersecurity-Related Risks
Manufacturers who build ISA/IEC 62443 into their secure development lifecycle can turn the EU Cyber Resilience Act into a passport to the European market and a stronger position worldwide. -
A Look at Two Cyber Reporting Processes: EU CRA and US CIRCIA
Cyber incident reporting is entering a new phase on both sides of the Atlantic.
ISA News
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The Operational Technology Cybersecurity Coalition Calls for Unified Global Standard to End Regulatory Fragmentation in OT Cybersecurity
The coalition urges U.S. policy makers to formally recognize ISA/IEC 62443 as the foundation for critical infrastructure security. -
ISA Podcast Shares Insights into Cybersecurity of Water Infrastructure
In this episode of Podomation, panelists discuss cybersecurity in the water/wastewater sector in the context of recent incidents in the US. -
White Paper: Comparing ISASecure, IECEE and Proprietary ISA/IEC 62443 Certification Schemes
Certification to the ISA/IEC 62443 standard can reduce industrial cybersecurity risk and regulatory burden. This overview compares how ISASecure, the IECEE Cybersecurity Program and proprietary certification approaches evaluate compliance. -
Announcing the OT Security Knowledge Framework: A Guide for Educators & Students, Second Edition 2025
The OT Security Knowledge Framework: A Guide for Educators & Students, Second Edition 2025 can help universities build an OT cybersecurity program.
Industry News
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Rockwell Automation Research Reveals More Than One-Third of Industrial Organizations See Cybersecurity Risk as a Top Obstacle to Growth
Industrial companies are increasing cybersecurity investment as connected operations, AI adoption and IT/OT convergence expand operational risk. -
Fortinet's 2026 State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity Report
Fortinet's 2026 State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity Report discusses OT cybersecurity program, process and solution maturity. -
Honeywell Technologies Report Reveals Significant Gaps in Industry's OT Cybersecurity Protection
In the face of rising AI-enabled critical infrastructure threats, industrials average 16 hours of downtime and up to $500,000 in losses from significant cyber incidents, says the report. -
Moxa Demonstrates Readiness for Cyber Resilience Act’s 24-hour Vulnerability and Incident Reporting Obligations
This regulation shifts vulnerability and incident handling from an internal practice to a legal obligation that mandates rapid detection, assessment, coordination and regulatory response. -
Ransomware Reaches 2026 High in July, Up by 22%
Ransomware volume rose 22% month-on-month, with 894 cases recorded in July 2026. -
Report: Cyber Resilient Infrastructure Starts with Early, Strategy-Driven Design
A new report from Black & Veatch and Takepoint Research finds that OT cybersecurity is still introduced too late in most industrial capital projects, increasing long‑term risk and cost.
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