MeriTalk

Eliminating Silos in IT/OT Cybersecurity Is a Funding Challenge, Not a Technical One

Tom Guarente of Armis argues that the biggest obstacle to securing converged IT and OT environments is not technology but fragmented funding. While the White House’s Cyber Strategy for America calls for holistic protection of critical infrastructure, agencies remain stuck in separate budget lines that prevent joint procurement of security tools. Guarente proposes dual‑track, multi‑year funding and centralized contract vehicles—similar to the 2022 GEMSS agreement—to break these silos. He also suggests mobile “tiger teams” to deliver expertise where resources are scarce.