IT/OT Collaboration in Securing Canada's Energy Sector: Aligning NCSS 2025 and Global Standards

This report explores IT and OT collaboration in strengthening cybersecurity for Canada’s energy sector. It provides an overview of IT/OT cybersecurity and examines how integrating expertise enhances critical infrastructure protection. Key challenges—cultural divides, fragmented risk management—and business drivers like cost savings and resilience are analyzed.

The report distinguishes IT/OT convergence from collaboration, underscoring why a cooperative approach is essential for secure energy operations. It reviews how standards and frameworks (ISO/IEC 27001, NIST CSF, IEC 62443, NERC CIP, etc.) and Canadian policy like the NCSS 2025 can help manage cyber risks in converged IT/OT environments.

Actionable insights and best practices include cross-functional processes, unified risk management, stakeholder engagement, and aligning process safety with cybersecurity. Recent case studies from the energy sector (2023–2024) illustrate real-world lessons, and emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning in OT security are discussed. A glossary of key terms is included for clarity.