Highlights:

  • The latest updates to Fortinet’s OT security platform are designed to lower industrial risk and improve the effectiveness of customers’ OT security measures.
  • Fortinet launches rugged switches for industrial use: the FortiSwitch Rugged 216F-POE for high-bandwidth environments and the FortiSwitch Rugged 424F-POE for IoT devices.

Recently, the cybersecurity company Fortinet Inc. updated its operational technology security platform. The improvements include advanced security networking and enhanced security operations capabilities, reflecting the company’s commitment to safeguarding the expanding cyber-physical systems market.

The updates aim to tackle the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks targeting operational technology (OT). According to a Fortinet report from June, 73% of organizations have encountered intrusions affecting OT systems exclusively or both OT and information technology systems, a significant rise from 49% in 2023. Fortinet emphasizes that, given the escalating risks, it is more crucial than ever for organizations to implement cybersecurity solutions designed specifically for OT environments.

The recent updates to Fortinet’s OT security platform are designed to reduce industrial risk and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of customers’ OT security efforts.

The new features include improved asset identification and OT network topology in FortiOS OT View, allowing for better configuration of asset locations to enhance asset identity, location, and communication pathways. Additionally, FortiOS now offers expanded virtual patching capabilities, with new virtual patching signatures in the FortiGuard OT Security Service that protect against vulnerabilities and safeguard unpatched OT assets.

On the hardware front, Fortinet has launched two new series of rugged switches: the FortiSwitch Rugged 216F-POE, tailored for high-bandwidth industrial environments and redundant architectures, and the FortiSwitch Rugged 424F-POE, designed to power industrial Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

FortiSRA, Fortinet’s Secure Remote Access for OT product, now provides secure remote access for third-party contractors, auditors, and employees, protecting critical OT systems from remote threats. Additionally, an update to the FortiExtender Vehicle improves fleet management with a ruggedized design, offering secure LAN extension from remote FortiGate next-generation firewalls to create a unified platform for vehicles and first responders.

Fortinet has also introduced enhanced AI-driven OT security operations capabilities to counter the increasing OT threats. This includes expanded features in FortSOAR, such as a new OT View dashboard for managing OT assets and updated compliance playbooks to improve OT network and asset visibility and remediation.

FortiAnalyzer now includes enhanced analytics and reporting features, offering support for North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection, International Electrotechnical Commission 62443-3-3, and IT/OT Risk reports. Additionally, an upcoming IoT/IIoT/OT Dashboard will deliver analytics for medical IoT devices, assisting with regulatory compliance and security assessments.

Furthermore, FortiNDR for OT now examines network behavior to identify threats and anomalies. Meanwhile, FortiDeceptor-as-a-Service enhances deception capabilities for OT and IoT by supporting additional devices and protocols, making deployments easier for users.