Our focus is on the Defense Industrial Base Sector, which is a fundamental part of a country’s critical infrastructure. These industries are crucial for a nation’s economy and national security. Safeguarding these organizations is a significant responsibility, as any negative impacts or outages can jeopardize public safety and health.

The Cactus Group is actively developing a methodology to bridge the gaps between the Department of Defense’s Authority to Operate (ATO) process and industrial control standards with ISA/IEC. Recognizing that operational technology (OT) has distinct characteristics, risks, and priorities compared to traditional IT systems, we see that current regulatory requirements are challenging to meet due to the need for DoD’s cyber workforce to gain a deeper understanding of OT systems.

The integration of OT into the cybersecurity realm has introduced gaps within the DoD’s RMF/ATO process. Our innovative approach aims to address these gaps, ensuring a seamless integration that enhances both compliance and operational effectiveness.