In a nutshell: Flat OT networks facilitate lateral attack propagation; endpoint-level enforcement stops these movements more effectively than network segmentation alone.
Flat network structures in Operational Technology enable attackers to rapidly spread laterally to critical areas. Endpoint-based security mechanisms can prevent these movements.
Many OT environments – such as in manufacturing, energy supply or critical infrastructure – are built with flat network designs. These structures were originally oriented toward high availability and simple integration, but offer minimal protection against lateral intruders.
Once an attacker has gained an initial access point – through phishing, weak authentication or remote access systems – they can move to critical systems or control devices in such topologies without further obstacles. The lack of microsegmentation or network isolation makes this lateral propagation the standard path for ransomware and targeted attacks on production facilities.
Enforcement points at the device level (host-based security, zero-trust authentication on the OT devices themselves) are a countermeasure: they enforce security controls directly at the endpoint, independent of network topology. This significantly impedes lateral movements, as each device validates its connections independently – not just the network as a whole.
For CISOs, this means that an OT security strategy must not only cover network layers (firewalls, segmentation), but also include hardware hardening and endpoint controls for industrial devices. This requires collaboration with OT teams and potentially adaptations to legacy systems.
Source: www.computerweekly.com · Published May 21, 2026
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