Fortinet enhances OT security: New features for protecting critical infrastructures

The increasing connectivity of industrial and infrastructure systems makes the protection of Operational Technology (OT) more important than ever. Fortinet, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, has recently introduced significant enhancements to its OT Security Platform to better protect companies in industries such as energy, transportation, and manufacturing from cyber threats.

Key Innovations of the Fortinet OT Security Platform

With the new version of the OT Security Platform, FortiGuard OT Security Service gains improved threat detection. Thanks to an extensive rule library with over 3,300 OT protocol rules, 750 OT-IPS rules, and 1,500 virtual patch rules, the platform offers enhanced protection against known vulnerabilities (KEVs) and other cyber risks.

Additionally, secure remote access features in FortiSRA have been improved, making password and secret management for OT environments even more secure.

New Industrial Switches for Secure Network Segmentation

Fortinet expands its portfolio with the FortiSwitch Rugged 108F and FortiSwitch Rugged 112F-POE. These switches, specifically designed for industrial environments, enable granular access control at the port level to prevent unauthorized movements within the OT network. Thanks to seamless integration with the Fortinet Security Fabric, companies can efficiently combine network and security management.

Secure 5G Connectivity for OT Environments

With the introduction of the FortiExtender Rugged 511G and FortiExtender Vehicle 511G, Fortinet expands its robust networking solutions. These 5G-enabled WAN gateways offer:

• High-speed connectivity for remote OT locations
• Built-in Wi-Fi 6 functionality
• eSIM support, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and simplifying provider selection.

AI-Powered Security Operations (SecOps) and Compliance Facilitation

Fortinet also strengthens its SecOps capabilities with updates for FortiAnalyzer 7.6 and FortiDeceptor 6.1. These improvements facilitate threat analysis and compliance reporting for OT security teams. FortiNDR Cloud also gains new OT protocol support for proactive threat hunting.

Why Companies Should Choose Fortinet OT Security

The new Fortinet OT Security Platform provides a unified security architecture for OT and remote locations. The key benefits include:

• Comprehensive OT security through seamless integration with Fortinet Security Fabric
• Advanced threat detection with over 3,300 specific OT security rules
• Robust network security with new rugged switches and 5G connectivity
• Automated security operations for threat mitigation and compliance adherence

Fortinet remains a leader in OT security, offering businesses a powerful, scalable, and future-proof solution against modern cyber threats.