What Is IT/OT Convergence? Time to change -We've been doing it this way for 60yrs!
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The legacy building system approach involves each discipline — HVAC, lighting, security, power mgt, and IT— all operating on separate, siloed infrastructure with proprietary hardware, software, and protocols. This isolation prevents data sharing, causing inefficiencies, manual coordination, and higher maintenance costs. Fragmented data limits real-time optimization and scalability, hindering the integrated performance needed for modern smart buildings.
Converged Design
Traditional Siloed Design
IT/OT convergence represents the integration of information technology systems with operational technology systems on a common network infrastructure that enables secure communication, automation, and data exchange between previously isolated domains. However, several misconceptions persist about what this convergence entails in practice. A common misconception is that IT/OT convergence requires complete physical integration on the same switching stack. In reality, a modular, phased approach with options for physical separation is often more practical. The benefits of convergence can be achieved by maintaining physical separation between IT and OT networks while using the same network technology, security protocols, telemetry, and management software across both environments. This approach enables automation between systems while addressing security concerns through logical isolation and common cyber security policies.
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