NIST explores OT asset management to strengthen cybersecurity

NIST’s National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) is seeking public feedback on a new project focused on operational technology (OT) asset management as the foundation for stronger OT cybersecurity.

The draft project description, Asset Management as a Foundation for OT Cybersecurity, outlines the project’s scope, challenges and technical approach. The NCCoE plans to demonstrate practical methods for OT asset discovery, inventory, configuration and change management.

The project will involve collaboration with asset owners, operators, and solution providers. The NCCoE plans to demonstrate real-world OT asset management and visibility solutions using commercially available products.

The proposal also includes a high-level reference architecture, desired technical capabilities and alignment with relevant standards, including outcomes from the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0.

The NCCoE said AI is accelerating both the discovery and exploitation of vulnerabilities, making strong OT asset management increasingly important as organisations modernise industrial systems, adopt zero trust architectures and respond to AI-driven cyber threats.

Many organisations struggle to maintain a complete inventory of OT assets. Without effective asset management, activities such as risk assessment, network segmentation, vulnerability management, incident response and technology modernisation become significantly more difficult.

The NCCoE said the laboratory demonstration will support the development of source code, scripts, architectures, procedures, and guidelines. These resources are intended to help organisations gain the visibility needed to detect and respond to modern cyber threats in OT environments.

The centre is seeking input from asset owners, operators, technology providers, and cybersecurity practitioners. Feedback will help refine the project scope, use cases, reference architecture, and demonstration objectives.

Following the consultation, the NCCoE plans to recruit collaborators for project demonstrations and development activities. Public comments on the draft are open until 31 July 2026.

Why does it matter?

Operational technology underpins critical infrastructure, manufacturing and industrial operations, making accurate asset visibility a prerequisite for effective cybersecurity. As AI enables attackers to identify and exploit vulnerabilities more quickly, organisations need reliable inventories, configuration management and continuous monitoring to support risk assessments, zero trust strategies and incident response.

The project also reflects a broader shift towards practical cybersecurity guidance. By working with industry to develop reference architectures, tools and implementation guidance aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, the NCCoE aims to help organisations translate cybersecurity best practices into operational improvements across industrial environments.

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