The Shift Toward Operational Resilience in Critical Infrastructure

Whether you’re responsible for maintaining uptime in the field or ensuring secure data flow across your network architecture, this year’s discussions pointed to a shared priority: resilience. As the demands on infrastructure grow and threats evolve, OT and IT leaders are being called to work more closely than ever. 

Here are seven key takeaways from the event, seen through the lens of those tasked with keeping power systems safe, secure, and operational. 

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1. Resilience: The Foundation of Operational Continuity

One theme consistently emerged across sessions and booth conversations: the industry’s focus is shifting from traditional cybersecurity toward operational resilience. It’s not just about stopping threats—it’s about ensuring the system continues functioning through them. 

This means keeping substations online and minimizing downtime for operations and field teams. For IT teams, it means ensuring data flows remain intact, validated, and compliant—even when systems are segmented or under stress. 

Resilience has become the common language of buyers and regulators. It’s no longer a feature—it’s a fundamental expectation. 

Next Step: Increase the resiliency of your most critical systems with hardware-enforced, one-way data transfer solutions, like data diodes, that can provide a complete protocol break and non-routable connection. 

2. AI in Critical Infrastructure: The Importance of Trusted Data

AI’s role in critical infrastructure is expanding—from automating predictive maintenance to detecting anomalies and optimizing grid performance. But there’s a catch: AI systems are only as reliable as the data they receive. 

That message came through clearly at DTECH. AI-driven systems require clean, secure, real-time data to function effectively. For IT teams, this reinforced the need to prevent unauthorized access and maintain data integrity across networks. Compliance teams echoed this concern, noting that AI implementations could become a liability rather than an asset without the proper safeguards. 

AI can only deliver on its promise if it runs on data you can trust. Without a secure foundation, smart infrastructure turns into a smart risk. 

Next Step: Software can be tricked; hardware cannot! A data diode can isolate and segment networks at the physical layer, making them impervious to software-based threats. Protocol filtering diodes take this a step further by enforcing unidirectional transfer at the hardware level and monitoring and validating the data itself. 

3. Field-Ready Cybersecurity: Solutions for Remote Environment

From operations managers to security leads, many attendees pointed to the same challenge: protecting systems in remote, rugged, and often unmanned environments. Traditional IT security tools don’t fit—literally or operationally. 

That’s why conversations around purpose-built solutions resonated. Owl’s modular, DIN-rail-friendly hardware diodes are specifically designed for these constraints, offering high-assurance protection that survives harsh field conditions without requiring on-site maintenance. 

This is more than a product fit—it responds to a real operational need. OT teams benefit from protections that don’t disrupt uptime, and IT engineers gain scalable solutions that integrate smoothly into broader network designs. 

The message is that if your infrastructure is in the field, your security must also be built for the field. 

Next Step: Explore Owl Talon, our revolutionized data diode platform. It is offered in a DIN-Rail form factor and can support multiple simultaneous data types and protocols on a single device at speeds of up to 1 Gbps. 

4. Proactive Security: Addressing Risks Beyond Mandates

While talking with utility professionals, especially those supporting smaller power entities, another truth came to light: security upgrades often get delayed or deprioritized without regulatory mandates. 

That creates a risk gap. While compliance teams remain focused on what’s required today, OT and IT leaders are increasingly aware of what might be needed tomorrow. Risk reduction, operational continuity, and resilience are becoming strategic imperatives—even without legal enforcement. 

Forward-looking teams are taking the initiative now, knowing that waiting for regulation often means reacting too late. 

Next Step: Discover how Owl has helped customers in the power and other Critical Infrastructure sectors meet NERC-CIP, NRC, and DHS’s Defense in Depth cybersecurity regulations. 

5. IT/OT Collaboration: Bridging the Gap for Resilient Systems

Some of the most productive conversations at DTECH happened when both the IT and OT teams were present. It’s no longer enough for one side to own cybersecurity or operational reliability—both are needed at the table. 

However, collaboration still comes with challenges. Bridging technical, cultural, and logistical gaps takes time. That’s why many teams are leaning on vendors who understand both domains. 

Owl has decades of experience deploying security solutions in hybrid environments. Our tools and support are designed to make the convergence of IT and OT possible and practical. 

Secure infrastructure today depends on shared priorities—and shared solutions. 

Next Step: Contact our experts to discuss your requirements and challenges regarding IT/OT collaboration. 

6. Real-World Use Cases: Driving Solutions Through Proven Strategies

Many attendees came looking for guidance, not just technology. They wanted to see how proven solutions could solve their real-world problems.  That led to highly engaged discussions around common challenges like: 

• Securely pushing firmware updates to remote substations.
• Moving sensor data between zones without exposing control networks. 
• Segmenting grid control systems to prevent lateral movement from threats.

Owl’s solution engineers were ready with answers because we’ve helped organizations do this before. With over 25 years of real-world deployment experience, we know what works—and how to make it work in your environment. When the use case is clear, buy-in follows. 

Next Step:  Download our eBook, CI Use Cases: Using Data Diode Cybersecurity to Defend ICS, for examples of how we’ve helped solve customer challenges across highly regulated industries. 

7. Security as the Backbone of Resilience

At this year’s show, many booths focused on innovation and automation. Few led with security. That made Owl stand out.  While our name sparked conversations, our presence sparked something more: a realization that resilience starts with a secure foundation. 

Owl’s one-way data transfer architecture ensures your most critical data stays protected—even if your lower-tier systems are compromised. Our hardware is built for environments where failure isn’t an option. That’s why we’re trusted by infrastructure operators who can’t afford to get this wrong. Behind every resilient system is a security strategy you can trust. 

Next Step: Security is always at the top of Owl’s mind. Developed using the Microsoft Secure Development Lifecycle, our data diode platform, Owl Talon, has enhanced security features, including an STIG-compliant OS, SELinux enforcement with access and permission controls, a BIOS password to prevent unauthorized access and modifications, an AIDE to detect unauthorized activities and changes, and more. Learn more about Owl Talon today! 

Final Thoughts: Preparing for a Resilient Future

DISTRIBUTECH 2025 made it clear that the future of critical infrastructure depends on trusted data, secure operations, and coordinated teams. Expectations are rising whether you’re responsible for field equipment, enterprise networks, or everything in between. 

At Owl Cyber Defense, we’re here to help you meet them—with proven, field-tested technology that protects what matters most.

Learn more about our secure transfer capabilities and strengthen the resiliency of your critical systems today.