Modernizing operational technology introduces both opportunity and risk. As legacy systems age and new technologies emerge, effective patch and vulnerability management becomes critical to resilience. Yet, cultural resistance, operational downtime and limited visibility often slow progress. Building a secure OT strategy requires alignment between IT and OT teams, accurate asset inventories, and structured life cycle governance. When integrated with segmentation, access control and continuous monitoring, patching becomes more than maintenance - it becomes a strategic defense capability.

In this session, Andres Prieto, manager OT cyber security at dsm-firmenich, will discuss:

• How to prioritize vulnerabilities to protect critical assets and maintain uptime;
• Strategies to integrate life cycle, patch and vulnerability management into OT operations;
• Collaboration models that strengthen coordination between IT, OT and vendor ecosystems.