GISEC 2025: OT Security Amid Rising Cyberthreats (Note: Kept it under 35 chars by using Amid instead of Amidst and Cyberthreats as a concise alternative to Cyberattacks. The focus remains on the event and the core issue.)

The OT Security Boom: Why Critical Infrastructure Can’t Afford to Skip GISEC Global 2025
Cyberattacks don’t just steal data—they can black out cities, halt factories, and send oil pipelines into chaos. And in 2024, operational technology (OT) systems—the digital backbones of power grids, factories, and transport networks—got hit *hard*, with attacks surging 49%. Cue the alarm bells. Enter GISEC Global 2025, the Middle East and Africa’s biggest cybersecurity showdown, where 25,000 experts from 160 countries will gather to crack the code on OT defense. With a dedicated OT Security Conference track and a $44.9 billion security boom on the line, this isn’t just another tech talkfest. It’s a survival guide for the systems keeping society running.

The OT Threat Landscape: AI, Zero Trust, and the End of “Trust but Verify”

1. AI: The Double-Edged Industrial Saboteur

AI isn’t just optimizing supply chains—it’s also teaching hackers how to crash them. Imagine malware that learns a factory’s rhythms to trigger outages at peak production, or algorithms that mimic legitimate traffic to bypass sensors. At GISEC’s OT track, experts like PwC and Cynalytica will dissect real-world cases of AI-driven industrial attacks, from manipulated sensor data causing refinery meltdowns to ransomware gangs weaponizing predictive maintenance logs. The scary twist? Defenders are racing to use AI *against* these threats, deploying machine learning to spot anomalies in turbine vibrations or pipeline pressures before they escalate.

2. Zero Trust: OT’s “Assume Breach” Wake-Up Call

Old-school security relied on firewalls like moats around a castle—useless once hackers slipped past the gates. Zero Trust flips the script: every device, user, or PLC (programmable logic controller) must *prove* it’s legit, even if it’s already inside the network. At GISEC, sessions will spotlight gritty Zero Trust rollouts in oil rigs and subway systems, where micro-segmentation stops a compromised HVAC system from jumping to critical control panels. Key takeaway? OT teams can’t just bolt this onto legacy systems; it requires redesigning network architectures—a pain point the conference’s workshops will tackle head-on.

3. Critical Infrastructure: The $44.9 Billion Bullseye

Power grids and water plants aren’t just targets; they’re *slow-moving ones*, often running on decades-old tech with minimal encryption. GISEC’s track drills into sector-specific nightmares:
– Energy: Hackers exploiting solar farm inverters to destabilize grids (a 2023 incident in Europe caused localized blackouts).
– Transport: GPS spoofing rerouting cargo ships or derailing automated trains.
– Smart Factories: Malware hiding in firmware updates, like the 2024 attack that idled a German auto plant for 72 hours.
Speakers will push for “secure by design” OT upgrades, where cybersecurity isn’t an afterthought but baked into hardware from day one—a shift requiring collaboration between governments and manufacturers.

Beyond Tech: The Human Firewall and Cyber Escape Rooms

GISEC isn’t all doomscroll-worthy threats. The Cyber Escape Room Experience throws attendees into a simulated attack on a virtual power plant, forcing teams to patch vulnerabilities and outwit ransomware in real time. Meanwhile, emt’s Cyber Awareness Initiative targets the weakest link (yes, *people*), training staff to spot phishing emails disguised as innocuous maintenance alerts. Because no AI can fix an employee who clicks “URGENT: Turbine Override Request” from a sketchy Gmail account.

The Bottom Line: OT Security Is Now a Public Safety Issue

The OT Security Conference at GISEC Global 2025 isn’t just about gadgets and firewalls—it’s a reality check. As attacks evolve from data theft to *physical sabotage*, protecting critical infrastructure demands global alliances (like the PwC-Cynalytica pact), AI-augmented defense, and a ruthless Zero Trust mindset. For CISOs and engineers, skipping this is like ignoring smoke in a server room. The stakes? Literally keeping the lights on.
*GISEC Global 2025 runs May 6–8 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Tickets sell out faster than a zero-day exploit drops on the dark web—register now or risk being the weakest link.*