Ask an OT Engineer: How would you manage patching?

Patching in OT environments requires a delicate balance between mitigating vulnerability risks and maintaining continuous operations.

In this Ask an OT Engineer segment featuring Gary Kneeland, learn practical strategies for managing patch cycles and software updates in operational technology environments.

Key considerations include:

• Assessing exposure and prioritizing critical vulnerabilities in OT assets

• Deploying compensating controls when immediate patching is not feasible

• Coordinating patch schedules with scheduled maintenance windows to prevent downtime

• Aligning IT and OT teams on risk thresholds and operational safety