Secure AI Integration in OT Systems: Key Principles and Best Practices

Since ChatGPT’s public release in November 2022, artificial intelligence (AI) has been integrated into many aspects of human society. For owners and operators of critical infrastructure, AI can be used to increase efficiency and productivity, improve decision-making, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience.

Despite its many benefits, integrating AI into operational technology (OT) environments that manage essential public services also introduces significant risks —such as OT process model drift over time or security process circumvention—that owners and operators must carefully manage to ensure the availability and reliability of critical infrastructure.

The Australian Signals Directorate, through the Australian Cyber Security Centre, together with CISA and international and federal partners, has released updated cyber security guidance, entitled: Principles for the Safe Integration of Artificial Intelligence into Operational Technology.

The objective of this guide is to support operators and owners of critical infrastructure in the safe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into operational technology (OT) systems, balancing the benefits of AI, such as increased efficiency, optimized decisions, and reduced costs, with the specific threats it poses to the safety, security, and reliability of OT environments.

Complex security challenges are the main focus of the paper , which considers machine learning (ML), large language models (LLM), and artificial intelligence agents.

However, the above considerations are equally relevant for systems that rely on classical statistical modeling and logical automation.

Key principles for safe AI integration:

1. Understanding AI: Educate staff on the risks, impacts, and safe development cycles of AI.
2. Evaluating the use of AI in OT: Evaluate business cases, manage OT data security risks, and address immediate and long-term integration challenges.
3. Establish AI governance: Implement governance frameworks, continuously test AI models, and ensure regulatory compliance.
4. Integrate safety and security: Maintain oversight, ensure transparency, and integrate AI into incident response plans.

Owners and operators of critical infrastructure are encouraged to adopt these principles to maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating risks. For further details, see the full guide.

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The Red Hot Cyber Editorial Team provides daily updates on bugs, data breaches, and global threats. Every piece of content is validated by our community of experts, including Pietro Melillo, Massimiliano Brolli, Sandro Sana, Olivia Terragni, and Stefano Gazzella. Through synergy with our industry-leading partners—such as Accenture, CrowdStrike, Trend Micro, and Fortinet—we transform technical complexity into collective awareness. We ensure information accuracy by analyzing primary sources and maintaining a rigorous technical peer-review process.