By : Wael Magdy
Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT), a global leader in cybersecurity, has announced significant enhancements to its Operational Technology (OT) Security Platform, reinforcing protection for critical infrastructure and industrial environments against the rising wave of cyber threats.
The latest upgrades provide deeper visibility into OT-specific threats, expand ruggedized solutions for secure segmentation, and introduce advanced security operations (SecOps) tools to enhance automated threat response and regulatory compliance tracking.
Nirav Shah, Senior Vice President of Products and Solutions at Fortinet, emphasized the company's continued investment in OT security innovation, stating, “As cyberthreats against critical infrastructure and industries like energy, transportation, and manufacturing continue to grow, Fortinet remains dedicated to delivering comprehensive security solutions tailored for operational technology environments. These latest enhancements provide organizations with the tools they need to improve their security posture and comply with regulatory requirements—all within a single, unified platform.”
Fortinet has introduced new capabilities in its OT security framework, including an enhanced FortiGuard OT Security Service, which can now detect threats across more than 3,300 OT protocol rules, nearly 750 OT intrusion prevention system (IPS) rules, and 1,500 virtual patching rules. The company also unveiled its FortiGate Rugged next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) and new industrial-grade switches, FortiSwitch Rugged 108F and 112F-POE, designed to prevent unauthorized lateral movement within OT networks.
To further improve connectivity and security, Fortinet launched two ruggedized 5G solutions: the FortiExtender Rugged 511G, an IP67-rated 5G wireless WAN gateway, and the FortiExtender Vehicle 511G, an IP64-rated 5G router tailored for fleet vehicles. These devices, featuring embedded Wi-Fi 6 and eSIM capabilities, offer high-speed, secure connectivity for remote industrial sites while simplifying carrier selection.
Additionally, the company strengthened its AI-driven security operations with updates to FortiAnalyzer 7.6 and FortiDeceptor 6.1, which provide deeper insights into security threats and streamline compliance reporting. FortiNDR Cloud now includes new OT protocol support for proactive threat hunting, while the on-premises FortiNDR solution integrates a Purdue Model view and an updated device inventory system that aligns with the Mitre ATT&CK ICS Matrix.
The Fortinet OT Security Platform has already received industry recognition and is trusted by leading organizations worldwide. The company was recently named the sole leader in the 2023 Westlands Advisory IT/OT Network Protection Platforms Navigator™, reinforcing its position at the forefront of the industry.
Manish Goyal, General Manager of Honeywell Connected Cybersecurity, highlighted Fortinet’s role in securing critical infrastructure, saying, “Together, Fortinet and Honeywell strengthen cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. As cyberthreats intensify, industrial and commercial building operators need integrated, end-to-end protection. Our collaboration enhances Honeywell’s cybersecurity offerings, providing strategic advantages in securing and managing risk for remote and on-campus sites.”
Chris Lubinski, Network Security Engineer at Alleima, praised Fortinet’s infrastructure, noting, “Our response time for support tickets is now ten times faster, and connections are significantly more stable. Everyone at Alleima is much happier with the security infrastructure we now have.”
Wolfgang Bitomsky, Ph.D., CIO of FCC Environment CEE, emphasized the operational benefits of Fortinet’s upgraded security solutions. “The enhanced network performance, combined with streamlined management, has reduced our security team’s workload by at least 15%. This allows us to focus on our digital transformation efforts, including zero trust and IT/OT convergence—with Fortinet as a trusted partner.”
As part of its commitment to OT security, Fortinet is hosting the OT Security Summit on March 12, providing industry professionals with insights into securing IT and OT environments. The event will feature Fortinet’s cybersecurity experts, industry leaders, and guest speakers from leading industrial automation organizations, discussing strategies for safeguarding legacy systems, securing remote access, and strengthening OT SecOps capabilities.
For more information on Fortinet’s OT Security Platform, visit Fortinet’s official website and follow the company on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest cybersecurity updates.
