By Michael See, CTO of Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise. ALE were winners of the ‘Best Use of Telephony / Unified Communications in Cloud Computing‘ award at The 2024/25 Cloud Awards.

In the evolving landscape of digital transformation, the narrative around IT/OT convergence has gained momentum across sectors like manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, utilities, and government.

According to IoT Analytics, the combined market for IT/OT is projected to grow at approximately 8.5% until 2030.  Recent industry feedback and cybersecurity guidance, however, reveal a more nuanced reality in this convergence. IT and OT increasingly share common technologies, but their integration often stops short of full physical network convergence. Instead, the conversation is shifting toward leveraging IT capabilities within OT environments and enhancing interoperability – a distinction that better respects operational needs and security imperatives.

Reframing the convergence narrative

The conventional message of IT/OT convergence is based on a merging of networks and systems, promising unified architecture, shared data streams, and streamlined management. Yet in practice, many operational environments, particularly in critical infrastructure and regulated industries, are intentionally maintaining separate physical networks for IT and OT.

Organizations in the transportation industry, for example, explicitly describe the importance of isolating the OT networks from IT to safeguard operations. This approach is not out of resistance to innovation but stems from decades of operational practice and compliance obligations. In sectors like casino gaming or rail transit, physical segregation of networks is not just a best practice – it’s often a regulatory requirement.

This perspective aligns with guidance from authoritative cybersecurity bodies such as the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which recommend network segmentation as a critical defense mechanism. For these organizations, “convergence” must not come at the cost of resilience, reliability, and security.

Integration over convergence

Instead of aiming for full convergence, the goal should be the strategic integration of IT technologies within OT systems. This includes adopting common technologies – such as an IP-based communication infrastructure, centralized data analytics, and cybersecurity frameworks – while respecting the operational boundaries that protect core functions.

For instance, physical security systems such as surveillance cameras, once confined to analog networks, are increasingly managed using IT protocols. However, in many cases, these systems remain on dedicated OT networks to prevent  security compromises originating from IT environments vulnerable to cyberattacks.

This model allows OT environments to benefit from IT-driven enhancements like real-time data processing, remote monitoring, and predictive maintenance, while maintaining operational independence. Interoperability becomes the keyword – ensuring systems can  communicate, exchange data, and implement common security policies , allowing organizations to gain deeper visibility into their infrastructure, enhance compliance through improved reporting, and ensure a stronger security posture without forcing a complete infrastructure  merger.

Cultural and operational hurdles

The integration journey is as much about people as it is about technology. IT and OT teams traditionally operate under distinct mandates – IT emphasizes cybersecurity and compliance, while OT prioritizes uptime and physical process integrity. Full convergence can feel intrusive or risky for OT teams tasked with protecting human safety, environmental standards, or regulatory compliance and overstretched IT teams.

By implementing strategy focused on collaboration rather than unification, organizations can foster mutual trust. Cross-functional teams, shared training, and aligned governance frameworks can bridge the cultural divide, allowing IT and OT to cooperate without compromising their unique strengths.

The role of AI and automation

The deployment of common technology for IT/OT is still in the early stages, but adoption is growing particularly in manufacturing and smart building sectors, and uptake is expected to accelerate significantly over the next five years.  Technology providers are already supporting this shift. For instance, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise offers IT-integrated plug-ins that simplify the configuration and management of surveillance systems, empowering OT teams to resolve issues without relying on IT support.

As the volume of data IT and OT connected devices grows, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will play a pivotal role in managing and extracting value from this information.  AI will be integrated into IT and OT networks to monitor anomalies, recommend maintenance schedules, and automate non-critical functions without opening new threat vectors or overwhelming legacy systems. Initially, AI will assist with recommendations, but over time and once it can demonstrate its reliability, AI will autonomously handle routine issues.

Looking ahead

The future of IT and OT is not dependent on a complete convergence of the infrastructure but rather in leveraging common network technologies and  cybersecurity frameworks with  thoughtful integration and purposeful interoperability. By adopting IT tools to enhance OT operations organizations can balance innovation with integrity, efficiency with safety, and digital progress with operational continuity.

This approach acknowledges the real-world practices of industries where uptime is non-negotiable and security is paramount. It offers a realistic, flexible path to digital transformation – one that addresses the critical requirements of the OT environment  while harnessing the power of modern IT.