Glossary

Why should an organization care about its OT asset inventory?

An organization should care about its OT asset inventory because it helps to ensure that its systems are secure and up-to-date. There are four additional reasons that companies should prioritize OT asset inventory:

• Risk management: An OT asset inventory helps organizations identify potential vulnerabilities in their systems and take steps to mitigate or eliminate those risks. This can help prevent cyber attacks and other security incidents, which can be costly in terms of financial damages, lost productivity, and damage to an organization's reputation.
• Improved efficiency: An OT asset inventory can help organizations better understand the capabilities and limitations of their systems, which can help them optimize their operations and improve efficiency. For example, an inventory may reveal that certain systems are underutilized or that there are opportunities to streamline processes by integrating or consolidating different systems.
• Better decision-making: An OT asset inventory provides a comprehensive view of an organization's systems, which can help decision-makers make informed decisions about how to allocate resources, prioritize projects, and allocate budgets.
• Compliance: Many regulatory standards and requirements, such as those related to data privacy and security, require organizations to maintain an inventory of their systems and assets. An OT asset inventory can help organizations meet these requirements and demonstrate compliance to auditors or regulators.