Topic: Operational Technology Governance in the Age of Autonomous Systems
Abstract: The integration of advanced technologies into industrial environments is transforming how operational technology (OT) systems are designed, managed, and secured. The combination of industrial complexity, environmental exposure, rising cyber costs, and emerging technological threats makes this a critical moment for advancing OT cybersecurity resilience. From smart manufacturing and autonomous robotics to AI-assisted energy grids and transportation systems, organizations are increasingly relying on intelligent automation to improve efficiency, safety, and scalability. However, this shift introduces new governance challenges and opportunities across cybersecurity, safety, compliance, and resilience.
This webinar explores how organizations can establish robust governance frameworks for OT environments evolving toward autonomous operations and introduces resilience blueprints particularly relevant to combined weather-related and infrastructure-specific risks. It discusses key risks in interconnected industrial systems, including attack surfaces, accountability for AI-driven decisions, system integrity, and supply chain management. The session also highlights best practices for integrating cybersecurity, risk management, and policy oversight into OT governance models. Attendees will learn how to align OT governance with enterprise security strategies, implement lifecycle oversight for autonomous systems, and prepare for evolving regulatory expectations.
Key Takeaways:
- Strategies for reducing operational risk in critical infrastructure
- The evolving operational technology threat landscape
- Emerging governance challenges in OT systems
- Approaches to integrating governance across IT, OT, and AI systems
- Best practices for overseeing and enhancing resilience across interconnected systems
- The impact of evolving policies and standards on OT operations
Speaker:
India James, Industry Advisor and Lecturer, JIC
Bio: India James is a leading voice in security and critical infrastructure in the United States, having served at the helm of the largest investor-owned institutions and working collaboratively with federal agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Energy. Her career spans governance, risk, policy, enterprise execution, and transformation, with expertise in energy alongside real estate, critical operations, and large loads such as data centers.
India currently advises executives, boards, and organizations on integrating land acquisition, energy, and critical infrastructure security, and technology policy into enterprise and infrastructure strategy. Beyond her technical skills, she is a former member of the Security Advisory Board for DistribuTECH International and currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment, representing global entities with interests in the energy and environmental sectors.
