# Operational Technology **Domain:** Industrial Systems / Cybersecurity **Doc Type:** Technical Concept Node **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition **Operational technology** is the hardware and software used to monitor or control physical processes, equipment and environments. It differs from conventional information technology in consequence and timing. Loss of confidentiality may matter, but loss of availability, integrity or safe control can directly affect machinery, buildings, utilities and people. ## Governing Variable Operational technology governs physical operation within safety, continuity and process constraints. ## Material and Institutional Manifestation Controllers, field devices, protection systems, building automation, supervisory workstations and maintenance tools form OT environments. They often contain long-lived equipment whose replacement cycle is much slower than ordinary software development. ## Relation to Governance OT is the layer where [[wiki/Infrastructure as Executable Social Order|infrastructure]] becomes adjustable. Linking it to enterprise systems and digital twins can improve coordination while also expanding the path through which a remote representation can affect physical state. ## Constitutional Question and Failure Modes Who can issue a command, approve a configuration change or override automation must be explicit. Failure modes include insecure remote access, vendor dependency, undocumented local practice, unsafe patching and central policies that ignore process-specific competence. ## Related Ontology [[wiki/Industrial Control System|Industrial Control System]] · [[wiki/SCADA|SCADA]] · [[wiki/Building Management System|Building Management System]] · [[wiki/Cyber-Physical System|Cyber-Physical System]] · [[wiki/Control Plane|Control Plane]]