Which term describes technology designed to implement an industrial control system rather than business IT networks?

Which term describes technology designed to implement an industrial control system rather than business IT networks?

• A. Operational Technology (OT)
• B. Industrial Control System (ICS)
• C. Fieldbus
• D. Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)

Answer: (A)

Operational Technology describes the hardware and software that monitor and control physical processes in industries—things like manufacturing floors, energy plants, and utilities. It covers the systems that implement an industrial control system, focusing on real-time operation, safety, reliability, and continuous running, rather than handling business IT tasks. That focus on controlling and automating physical processes is why this term best fits technology designed to implement an industrial control system rather than business IT networks.

Industrial Control System is the actual control setup itself, including the processes and systems to manage them. Fieldbus refers to specific kinds of communication protocols used within these systems. A Programmable Logic Controller is a concrete device used to run control logic. These are important components, but they’re not the broad technology category that describes the environment and tools used to run industrial control systems in general.