This distinction is at the core of what L2iQ does. IT (Information Technology) systems email servers, ERP platforms, corporate networks — are designed to handle data and business processes. Their security focus is on confidentiality and integrity: keeping information private and accurate. OT (Operational Technology) systems — SCADA platforms, rail control systems, tunnel management systems, power substations — control physical infrastructure in the real world. Their security focus must be on availability and safety: these systems cannot go offline, cannot be rebooted during operations, and a successful attack can have direct physical consequences including service disruption, injury or loss of life. Many OT systems also run decades-old protocols that were never designed with network connectivity in mind, making them highly vulnerable when connected to modern networks. Standard IT security tools and practices applied to OT environments can themselves cause outages. L2iQ’s entire cyber security practice is built around this OT reality and not repurposed from an IT background.