OT Asset Inventory
What is OT Asset Inventory?
OT asset inventory is the complete, accurate list of all industrial devices and systems (what they are, where they are, how they’re configured, and how they communicate) maintained through their lifecycle.
Examples
- A plant maintains an inventory of every PLC, HMI, switch, and server with model, firmware, IP/MAC, zone, owner, and last backup date.
- Passive monitoring reveals an unknown Windows laptop talking to PLCs; the inventory flags it as an unauthorized device for removal.
Discover 🔎
You can’t protect what you don’t know exists. In OT, an accurate asset inventory underpins safety, reliability, and security: it tells you which devices are running, which versions they run, how they’re connected, and who owns them. Because industrial systems have long lifecycles and strict uptime requirements, inventories must be built carefully (often without intrusive scanning) and kept current through disciplined change management.
Summary 📝
An OT asset inventory is the foundation for safe operations and effective security. Build it safely with documentation, walkdowns, and passive discovery; make it actionable by mapping zones, conduits, and flows; and keep it current by tying updates to change control and automated drift detection.
Tip: The interactive version includes progress tracking, decks, and premium deep dives.