Operational Technology: The New Role of Enterprise Architecture in the Context of IT & OT Convergence

Technological convergence triggered by the evolution of automation and information technologies is already a reality in the industry. This development has led to convergence, merging previously segregated Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) areas. Technological and structural convergence aims to increase cybersecurity and productivity and significantly reduce costs for projects and the maintenance of industrial assets. Good practices from two previously isolated areas must be merged to reinforce the best in each. Enterprise architecture (EA), one of these practices, must be included in the daily routine of operational technology projects. However, current EA frameworks do not deal with operational technologies. This paper proposes a supplement to current architecture frameworks, including the OT activity area, as a vital part of the technological convergence process’s success.