The Info-Tech Research Group has published a blueprint to help utilities align IT and OT teams, map cross-domain dependencies, and build coordinated recovery and continuity plans.

As cyber threats, extreme weather and aging infrastructure increase operational risk for utilities, many organisations continue to manage business continuity and disaster recovery separately across IT and operational technology environments.

The blueprint addresses this by guiding organisations through a phased approach to identifying IT and OT dependencies, aligning recovery objectives, and establishing joint governance for continuity management. It emphasises that effective continuity planning must account for both enterprise systems and operational technologies, such as scada, DERMS and other control environments, that directly affect service delivery, safety and regulatory compliance.

“Business continuity breaks down when IT and OT are treated as separate worlds,” said Bevin Chau, research director at Info-Tech Research Group (www.infotech.com). “Utilities need a shared understanding of how enterprise systems and operational technologies depend on one another. By integrating IT and OT continuity planning, organisations can coordinate response efforts more effectively, reduce recovery time, and protect both operational reliability and public safety.”

Despite growing operational interdependence between IT and OT environments, Info-Tech’s research shows that many utilities struggle to execute effective, integrated continuity planning due to several persistent challenges:

• Minimal collaboration between IT and OT teams, resulting in duplicated effort, unclear ownership and fragmented response during disruptions.
• Unmapped IT and OT dependencies that are often discovered only during an incident, delaying recovery and increasing operational impact.
• Inconsistent rigour between IT and OT continuity practices, where OT planning often lacks the structure, testing and governance applied to IT disaster recovery.
• Organisational and cultural silos, including different reporting structures, priorities and terminology, limit shared understanding and coordination.
• Unclear roles and responsibilities during disruptions, leaving teams uncertain about decision rights, escalation paths and recovery ownership.

Info-Tech’s Framework for Integrated IT/OT Business Continuity Planning

To help utilities move from siloed planning to coordinated execution, the blueprint (www.infotech.com/research/ss/integrate-it-ot-business-continuity-planning-and-disaster-recovery) outlines a phased approach that helps utilities start on common ground, strengthen collaboration between IT and OT teams, and build sustainable convergence over time. It also includes tools such as IT and OT application heatmaps, stakeholder mapping templates, recovery workflows, and governance models designed for utility environments.

By applying Info-Tech’s research-backed approach, utilities can move beyond parallel continuity plans and build a coordinated response capability that reflects how IT and OT actually operate today. This enables faster recovery, clearer accountability and a stronger foundation for broader IT-OT convergence across the organisation.